I don’t know what our society would be like without the energy of Mars. The joy of competition, the courage of first responders, the logical brains behind engineers, the power to build everything from skyscrapers to civilization. Mars is the hero who keeps our world moving. In Vedic mythology, Mars is associated with Skanda, the warrior son of Shiva, and Hanuman, who reminds us of the glory of selfless service. Indeed, Mars rules the very red blood that flows in our veins.
But Mars has a shadow, and it’s a long one.
When Mars is strong and well-oriented, he embodies service, courage, and the power of will to overcome any obstacles. He is a doctor, an advocate, and an engineer. He is a firefighter rushing into a burning building. When Mars is weak or afflicted, this same fiery energy turns destructive. These include rage, violence, recklessness, and the type of impulsive behavior common in adolescent boys. Every action hero has a dark side, and Mars’ dark side can manifest as a bully, conqueror, or aggressor who can’t control his passions.
On a spiritual level, Mars rules the willpower and raw determination to push through when you want to give up everything inside of you. Mars is deeply connected to the ego and dreams of adventures where he will be praised for climbing mountains and rescuing people in distress. Boys grow up admiring superheroes and great athletes. Society uses these stories to inspire courage and overcome defeat. But the dark side of our obsession with winning makes us forget the need for cooperation. Remember, for every winner there is a humiliated loser.
The ultimate purpose of Mars is to bring the accumulated volcanic chaos to the surface and heal it. He is the driving force behind moving and changing the world. He rules over volcanic eruptions, wars, and rebellions. His power to move and change things is key to the creative process itself. At the deepest level, the Mars archetype must conquer primal urges and move toward surrender to the divine will. The protagonist’s journey ultimately becomes a spiritual one.
In your chart, Mars speaks about your relationship with courage, conflict, and desire. If you were born with a weak Mars, such as Cancer or Aquarius, you may not have fully learned the core lessons of service and courage. If your Mars is in Libra or Taurus, you may need to work on controlling your passionate, greedy energy. Mars owns Aries and co-rules Scorpio with Ketu. He is exalted in Capricorn, where the soldier performs brilliantly in enemy territory, and debilitated in Cancer, where family life dampens the Martian’s desire for adventure.
Ironically, Mars is essentially a bachelor, as a good soldier must maintain his energy to defeat the enemy with all his might. Venus is constantly seducing Mars and draining his energy. Thus, the siren and tempter of Homer’s Odyssey forever separate the hero from his quest.
Mars is friends with the Sun and Jupiter, neutral with Venus and Saturn, and hostile with Mercury. The Sun inspires Mars to heroic causes. Jupiter quells the fire of Mars as a service to God. But when Mars and Mercury collide, the contradiction between raw behavior and careful analysis can cause real friction in the heart.
Harness the energy of Mars
If Mars is bringing difficulties into your life, channel that fire constructively. Physical exercise is essential. Yoga chair poses, brisk walks, martial arts, and competitive sports all energize Mars. When Mars’ energy has no place to go, it turns inward as anger, frustration, and recklessness. Service to others, especially activities that require courage and physical strength, turns Mars from a villain to a true hero.
On the deepest spiritual level, Mars is Shakti, the Kundalini energy of Scorpio, waiting to go dormant and begin the journey to self-realization. Ultimately, Mars ends up igniting the protagonist’s journey to realize God and return to the Source.
I thoroughly explore the depths of Mars and all the planets in my book Signs of life from the astrological zodiacavailable at appliedvedicastrology.com/product/signs-of-life/ for $19.95.
Source: ASTRO BLOG Archives – Applied Vedic Astrology – www.appliedvedicastrology.com
