Mars

Overview

Counting out from the Earth, Mars is the fifth of the seven ancient planets. It crosses the zodiac in 687 days, a little under two years. Rome gave it the name of its god of war, Mars; the Greeks, for their part, called it Ares.

The classical treatises make it the star of dry heat, action and conflict. They count it with Saturn among the malefics, as the lesser infortune: in the classical scheme of the houses, those of Mars sit in square to those of the Sun and Moon, while those of Saturn face them.

Writers of the early twentieth century read mostly energy and courage in it. When the planet is badly aspected, the same qualities turn to rashness and anger.

Nature and temperament

It is described as hot, but above all dry. Its red colour betrays a fiery nature, and its place just above the sphere of the Sun adds to the heat. That excess of dryness is what earns it the name of malefic.

Mars is masculine. On day and night, the tradition holds that Saturn and Mars, harmful by excess, each receive the time opposite to their nature: Saturn, cold, the day; Mars, dry, the night, which tempers their excesses. A few authors put it on the day side instead.

Essential dignities

Dignities measure how at ease a planet is in a sign. Those of Mars come from the traditional tables, which the birth chart on this site also applies.

Mars in the signs

What the tradition says of Mars in each sign. The second line, more recent, describes a well-aspected Mars, that is, one supported by harmonious aspects. These wordings describe tendencies.

Aries

Bold, fearless, self-assured, quick to fight. Seeks to command and bears subjection badly. The tradition credits it with honours won by arms. Energetic, enthusiastic, impulsive, combative and impatient of restraint. These natives attempt the impossible and often succeed through sheer audacity.

Taurus

Mars is in detriment here. The ancients note strong appetites (the table, gaming, pleasure) and a difficult temper when nothing balances it. Well aspected, Mars gives a tenacious inner strength that reaches its goal through quiet persistence, with generosity in money matters.

Gemini

An unsettled, ingenious mind that moves from one way of earning a living to another and lives by its wits. Supported by good aspects, Mars gives a keen mind, frank to the point of bluntness, fond of debate and successful in law, letters or engineering.

Cancer

Mars is in fall here. The person is described as slow and unenterprising, kept to modest work unless other testimonies in the chart help. Mars gives an independent, courageous nature, attached to its home and hard-working to keep it comfortable.

Leo

Quick to anger, so that passion sometimes overrules reason, yet noble, generous and free. Fond of bodily exercise: shooting, riding. Mars adds a sense of honour and responsibility, enthusiasm and a directness that can be uncomfortable.

Virgo

Quick to anger and slow to forgive, keeps the memory of an offence for a long time. Hard to please, readily vain. Under harmonious aspects, Mars gives an intellect quick to grasp an idea and a scientific turn of mind, useful in research as in business.

Libra

Mars is in detriment here. Susceptible to charm and careful of appearance, sure of its talents and apt to boast of them. These leanings can do harm. Mars gives an ardent, affectionate nature, in love with art and beauty, popular with the public, and good ground for lawyers.

Scorpio

A passionate, secret, unsociable and vindictive temperament. The tradition also grants quick understanding, a taste for exceptional work and an active imagination that leads to investigation. Mars gives a sharp mind, a blunt manner, at times heedless of others' feelings, and a courage that overcomes obstacles.

Sagittarius

Large-hearted and hot-blooded, hasty but cheerful, active, courageous, talkative, fond of applause. Mars adds a taste for debate on law, philosophy or religion, candour, ambition and a liking for sport and travel.

Capricorn

Mars is exalted here. An ingenious, penetrating mind of good disposition, which the tradition calls fortunate in most of its undertakings. Supported by good aspects, Mars gives ambition, unfailing courage and patient perseverance, which earn the community's respect and sometimes public office.

Aquarius

A turbulent spirit, drawn to controversy, sometimes to the harm of health and goods, unless other testimonies agree. Mars gives a quick, intuitive, original and hard-working mind, which finds friends able to help it, with a taste for mechanics and electricity.

Pisces

A leaning toward idleness and dissembling. Under harmonious aspects, Mars gives an aptitude for posts of discreet authority (investigator, warden, surgeon) and a taste for secrecy, in love as elsewhere.

Mars in the houses

The first line reports the older authors, where they speak of it. The second, from authors of the early twentieth century, tells a well-aspected Mars from an afflicted one, which is under hard aspects. A single line comes from the latter. These readings describe tendencies.

House I

Energy, ambition, courage, self-reliance and a robust constitution, above all in a fire sign or in Capricorn. Afflicted, the strength remains but turns to rashness and stubbornness.

House II

The older authors see gains drawn from war and surgery, or from trades that work with fire, such as smiths and cutlers. Others note that wealth scatters easily here. Well aspected, Mars makes the native generous with money and gives a fine earning capacity, above all in work that uses fire, iron or machinery. Under hard aspects, money comes fast and goes as fast, with overspending and repeated reverses.

House III

Mars shares this house with Gemini, and the older authors find him little harmful here, unless Saturn is with him. A keen mind, fond of argument, quick at repartee and inventive. Troubled, quarrels with brothers, sisters and neighbours, and a risk of accident on short journeys.

House IV

Joined with Venus, in the fourth house as in the seventh, Mars helps the native overcome enemies, say the older authors. Under harmonious aspects, a strong constitution that holds up with age, good digestion, and an eagerness to build property for old age, with the possibility of an inheritance from the parents.

House V

Mars and Saturn make this house an unhappy one in the eyes of the older authors, who see unruly children in it. An ardent, demonstrative love nature, a taste for sport and muscular effort, and the qualities of a leader and teacher. Under strain, fickleness in love and losses through gambling or speculation.

House VI

This house is the joy of Mars. United with Venus, he points there to a good physician, according to the older authors. A quick, energetic worker who does better in the service of others than alone, preferably in a large firm. Under hard aspects, quarrels with colleagues or employer and a risk of accident at work.

House VII

Mars or Saturn in the seventh house signal, for the older authors, powerful adversaries and trouble in marriage. Supported by good aspects, a capable, industrious, enterprising partner of strong personality who likes to lead, with a tendency to early union. Afflicted, a domineering, quarrelsome partner.

House VIII

The older authors fear trouble here from people in the public eye, through false testimony. Backed by Jupiter or Venus, Mars brings possessions and inheritances. Under harmonious aspects, profit through the spouse or by inheritance, and good business in partnership. Troubled, finances worsen after marriage through the spouse's extravagance.

House IX

Setbacks in travel, say the older authors, and, ill placed, a quarrelsome mind in matters of religion or law. Broad, progressive views, a taste for social or spiritual causes, a liking for a roving life and travel abroad. Under strain, rigid opinions and risks while travelling.

House X

The older authors look to the tenth house for reputation. Mars and Saturn together, without enough dignity, lose honours and position there. Mars also bears on the profession. Under harmonious aspects, it is one of the best positions for success: ambition, inexhaustible energy, a sense of command, with an aptitude for trades that handle fire, iron or the cutting tool. Under hard aspects, the same energy lacks discernment and the native draws the hostility of those around.

House XI

Friends who are powerful but often not loyal: that is what the older authors read here. A leader in their own circle, enthusiastic, with friends among sportspeople and fighters. Troubled, touchiness toward friends and overreaching ambition.

House XII

For the older authors, hidden enemies lie in wait here: without power when Mars and Saturn are strong, formidable when they are weak. Supported by good aspects, benefit in the matters of this house (prisons, hospitals, charitable institutions) for someone working there in an official capacity: warden, surgeon, administrator, investigator. Afflicted, enmities and trials the person helps bring on.

Mars in aspect

The first line reports the older authors, where they speak of it. The second, from authors of the early twentieth century, describes mostly the harmonious aspects, sextile and trine. A single line comes from the latter.

With the Sun

Sun and Mars together, under a harmonious aspect, raise vitality and make the nature lively and energetic.

With the Moon

Sextile or trine: vitality, endurance, a resolute, courageous and constructive mind, quick in decisions without being rash.

With Mercury

Mars joined with Mercury and the Sun, by conjunction or in good aspect, makes the physician, the chemist or the apothecary, say the older authors. In bad aspect, the same union gives a mind without scruple in business. Sextile or trine: a sharp, ingenious, resourceful mind. The pair is linked with activity and skill in business.

With Venus

The tradition counts Mars and Venus among the enemy planets, their houses looking at each other with ill will. Venus is the opposite of Mars, and her metal, copper, is said to be the antidote to Mars's iron. Sextile or trine: an ambitious, adventurous nature, demonstrative in affection, fond of sport and pleasure.

With Jupiter

A friendly aspect from Jupiter, like one from the Sun, softens the excesses of Mars, say the older authors. Sextile or trine: a noble, sincere and straightforward nature. The fire of Mars lends the gravity of Jupiter enthusiasm and the power to carry others along.

With Saturn

Saturn and Mars are the two infortunes of the tradition, the greater and the lesser. One is cold, the other dry. Joined, square or opposed on an angle of the chart, they make for a fiercer, even violent, temper. Sextile or trine: a capable, determined and energetic nature, fit for intense and sustained action.

Traditional correspondences