The Meaning of Mars in Astrology: The Flame of Desire, Courage and Untamed Will

I can’t fully understand someone’s character or their relationship with others without studying Mars in their chart. I’ve always viewed it as an integral part of one’s character. It shows us so much including gut reactions to things, drive, what we find attractive in others, and a lot more besides.

This fiery planet awakens our inner fighter and gives us valuable inner weapons to achieve the things we set our minds on. There is no other planet in astrology that boosts our drive, courage, and fight as much as Mars does. Just like a cosmic engine, this planet can lead us to incredible adventures and priceless life lessons.

It gives us the power we need to get up every time we feel down and fight for what we love, what we believe in, and ultimately what we deserve. But here’s an important detail: we have to believe that we deserve to be successful and live the life of our dreams, for Mars to work its charm and take us to where we want to be!

Left to its own devices, Mars can easily turn into a fire that burns everything in its path but a channeled Mars can be the warrior that helps you achieve your loftiest goals.

In Mythology

Mars represents the God of War in Roman mythology, the equivalent of Ares in Greek mythology. While both Mars and Ares represent war, you will see that they’re two different sides of the same coin.

The Respectable Warrior In Roman Mythology

The Romans considered Mars one of the most important gods, symbolizing military, masculine energy and strength. In ancient Rome, he was also considered a divine protector and a cosmic father figure. People would pray to Mars for all sorts of things and many strongly believed in his power to deliver their requests.

The son of Jupiter (Zeus in Greek mythology) and Hera (Juno in Greek mythology), Mars enjoyed a profound respect from Romans and represented a highly honorable entity that brought divine courage and strength to mere mortals. He was also the God of agriculture, which was just as important as the military for ancient Romans.

Another legend that contributed significantly to Mars’ image among humans was the birth of Remus and Romulus, his twin sons with the beautiful Vestal Virgin Rhea Silvia. Mars’ twins were the founders of Rome and a divine gift from the God of War.

Ares: A Destructive and Chaotic Warrior in Greek Mythology

Mars’ ancient Greek equivalent didn’t enjoy the same respect, even if he was an important deity in Greek mythology. Ares represented the destructive and chaotic side of war and masculinity. The strategic and disciplined military and warfare were represented by Ares’ sister, Athena. But Ares was renowned for his handsome features and his impressive helmet, spear and shield. He was a bit arrogant and had his sons Phobos (fear) and Deimos (terror) carry his chariot.

While there are many legends and myths about Ares as the main character, the most famous one is his love affair with Aphrodite (Venus). Aphrodite, the Goddess of love and beauty was married to Hephaestus, Ares’ brother. Their passionate love brought into the world Eros (god of love) and several other children. But the legend says that Hephaestus found out about this affair and got his revenge. Hephaestus was a good craftsman and built a trap for Ares and his wife. The trap was a net placed on their marital bed which captured both lovers and Hephaestus exposed them in shame in front of the other gods.

The Most Fiery Planet of Them All

Mars’ fire can create or destroy, just like the difference between Mars and Ares. This planet has the cosmic strength to make or break your life and the key to its fruitful energy is located in how you understand to use and manifest this energy.

This planet is the drive that leads you towards your life goals and makes you get out of bed in the morning. We can say that it awakens the warrior spirit within us but that encompasses a lot of features like determination, assertiveness, passion and vitality. Without such features, a warrior wouldn’t stand a chance!

Mars is the ruler of the fire sign of Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, and it’s responsible for most of its pioneering nature. But it is also a co-ruler for Scorpio, along with Pluto. The masculine energy of Mars can be visible in both these zodiac signs, even if it is manifested differently. Aries embodies the risk-taker, aggressive side of Mars while Scorpio represents more the strategic determination and military diligence of this planet.

Aggression or Passion?

So, is this planet of war, as it’s known, aggressive or is it passionate and enthusiastic? There are many shades of gray when it comes to Martian energy and it’s very difficult to define it as this or that. It’s all of the above and more.

It’s also what we make of it. For example, I have Mars in Scorpio and this is thought if as an aggressive placement but it doesn’t have to be. While I’m certainly very fiery, and often take action in a Scorpionic sort of way, I can control my own behavior. If I feel like I’m becoming too upset, I can choose to withdraw and cool down. So, while some people may have the planet of war in an intense sign like Aries, Leo, Scorpio or Sagittarius, they still have the power to temper its energy and channel it into positive, constructive directions if they wish.

So, Mars has the energy we allow it to have in our lives. If we decide to use its warrior spirit to grow as individuals and build better lives for ourselves and those around us, Mars can be the fuel which helps us enormously. However, if we let Mars take control us and don’t set any purpose for its energy, it can easily become chaotic, selfish and reckless.

Natal Placement

Before I get into the sign and house your Mars is in, let me share with you a piece of astrology folklore: it’s thought that if you were born at night, your Mars is more evolved and well-behaved so you’ll get to enjoy the strengths of its energy. If you were born during the day, Mars might be more potent, chaotic and aggressive. But remember that there are no fully positive or fully negative astrological placements. And personally, I’m not quite sure how true this is. I’ve read an awful lot of charts and I haven’t found it be frequently true.

The Sign Placement

The sign is the vibration that takes us through life, fueling our major goals as well as the energy we invest in our daily activities.

In Aries: Mars is at home here because it rules this sign (along with Scorpio). If have this placement you are an exceptionally ambitious individual. Your character is remarkably strong and is very determined to reach all your life goals. It is almost like the fire of Aries is running through your aura, empowering you even through the most difficult situations. Your curious nature leads you to break many, if not all, the limits and get far in life. But I have to warn you that an Aries Mars can also give you a short temper and high impulsivity. You might struggle with compromising and you need to practice patience and acceptance as much as you can.

In Taurus: This is an entirely different energy from an Aries Mars. You are patient but also stubborn and like things to be done your way… always. This can work in your favor or not, depending on the circumstances. I don’t see stubbornness as a negative trait necessarily as many dreams manifest from this strength of not giving up. And as a Taurus Mars, you know what you want in life and are not afraid to go after it. This placement also makes you a loyal partner, completely dedicated to the greater good of the relationship. And you are ready to fight for what you love too. Part of your karma in this life is focused on learning how to share and choose your battles wisely.

In Gemini: You are energetic, full of vitality and playful. This placement makes you face all the obstacles in life with a witty attitude and use your communication as your sharpest weapon. Mars in Gemini works very well with your intellect, so even if you take risks, they are well calculated. You can multitask and have a sense of sarcasm that adds charm to your personality. But your sharp and direct communication, even if you express it playfully, might generate conflicts in your life. This is why such a placement requires practicing diplomacy and channeling your energy in the right direction.

In Cancer: Who would have thought that Mars has a soft side? Well, the God of War can show his emotions in the sensitive and feminine sign of Cancer. But this sensitivity doesn’t make you vulnerable, on the contrary. Your emotions are strong and you are not afraid to express them, despite the timid nature of Cancer. This is a placement that helps you fight for what you love and become a protector of your home and family. But pay attention to your instincts as you might act based on your emotions rather than your intellect. Learn to rationalize your feelings and direct your energy towards helping and nurturing those you love.

In Leo: This is a dramatic and charismatic placement. Leos shine like it’s their day job and Mars helps these natives shine even more! This placing gives you a divine passion and enthusiasm that you invest in everything you do. You are very proud and aware of your self-worth which adds to your overall charm. This placement also makes it difficult for you to stay still. You want to do some type of activity all the time and excel in it. You have a creative vibe that leads you in everything you do and finds a way to manifest through unique talents. Part of your karma in this life is to keep your pride under control and use your creativity and passion as a force that can make this world better.

In Virgo: This is one of the placements that tame Martian fire in a very productive way. With this placement, you are a determined worker, with increased attention to detail. You seem to notice even the finer nuances of a situation and come up with intelligent solutions. You are very motivated by the desire to be of service to others and find success through activities that allow you to manifest this desire. The trick with this placement is that you tend to focus all your hard-working energy on your daily life tasks and miss the bigger picture. One of your lessons is to learn to look further than tomorrow and use Mars to build a bright future, one day at a time.

In Libra: This placement gives you a sensitive energy that helps you get emotionally involved with other people and fight for your relationships. You attract people naturally, thanks to your charm and natural beauty. You may be very outgoing and experience lots of interesting adventures during the course of your life. You look at a situation from all angles and balance it well enough to satisfy all parties involved. It’s important to maintain an objective outlook on your relationships and pay attention to any potential red flags.

In Scorpio: In its second cosmic home, your passion shines bright through everything you do. This placement gives you a sense of pride similar to that of Leo but with the depth and complexity of Scorpio. You tend to be a strong inspiration and influence on those around you and have an electric personality. You have a strong ego that will have to be tamed as you mature. It’s a placement that can make you arrogant and self-sufficient because most of the time you can achieve what you want in life all by yourself. Your lesson is to practice self-discipline and teamwork, without the need to control others.

In Sagittarius: You are full of life and extremely active. You seem to always be looking for the next adventure and like to lead a sporty lifestyle. The spontaneity of this aspect can also make you a bit impulsive, which is something you should control. You don’t want to take unnecessary risks even if you have an ongoing personality. This placement gives you a wide range of interests and you invest a lot of energy into your hobbies. Your karmic lesson is to learn to deepen your wisdom and understand the profoundness of each interest before you go into a new one.

In Capricorn: One of the most prominent traits of Capricorn is persistence. Combined with Martian energy, you rarely give up on your goals and when you do, it is only after you tried everything under the Sun. You are very responsible and have a strong sense of duty, thanks to Capricorn’s ruler, Saturn. While Mars has a very strong and determined energy in the sign of Capricorn, one of your biggest weapons is your silence. You know when to communicate and when to stop this privilege if people don’t respond to it. This placing makes you a great leader and you are aware of the impact your actions have on the community. You need to learn to control your tunnel vision and take into account new ways of doing things.

In Aquarius: This placement gives you the strength to fight for the collective good and pursue social causes with an activism fever. However, Mars here doesn’t look inward so you might struggle with self-awareness and self-control. Your communication can be quite straightforward and you could benefit from practicing diplomacy. You thrive in groups but might not be as comfortable with just one person. Try finding a balance between focusing on yourself while also getting involved in your humanitarian interests.

In Pisces: This placement boosts your dreams and spiritual energy with a fiery cosmic wave. You are very empathetic and others can influence you easily. But at the end of the day, your idealistic side wins over everything else. There might be times when you believe that only your inner world is true and start resenting society or the external system. This mindset can make you a loner and a fighter for your ideal sense of reality.

The House Placement

The house placement shows the area of life where this energy is likely to manifest. It also shows how you deal with conflicts and life challenges.

In the 1st House of Self: You’re very focused on yourself and getting ahead in life. This placement is assertive, determined, and passionate. You have everything it takes to become a great leader and bring your team towards success. You’re not afraid of starting something new, and many times you reach the result you aim for. However, this placement can also manifest aggressively, especially when things don’t go your way.

In the 2nd House of Material Wealth: You fight for financial comfort and you want to reach material wealth. You might reach burnout many times in your life as you work without breaks, especially if you have your eyes set on a certain prize. This placement makes you very ambitious but also resourceful enough to reach your goals. When you reach a tense situation, you fight for justice and are not afraid to invest the effort it takes to reach the solution you want.

In the 3rd House of Communication and Intellect: Your strongest weapon is your communication and the way you express yourself. You are well-spoken and have a sharp intellect that helps you find the best solution faster than others. This placing boosts your curiosity and gives you a thirst for mental stimulation. You want to acquire knowledge in all the domains you are interested in and know when and how to use that knowledge to achieve what you want in life. Most of your arguments get settled verbally and you avoid letting things blow out of proportion.

In the 4th House of Home: You fight to protect your home and loved ones but also to create the type of home that makes you happy. Family is very important for you and you tend to act based on your emotions. You intensely feel everything and can have mood swings that others don’t understand.

In the 5th House of Creativity and Joy: This is a playful and creative placement. It’s also very passionate and enthusiastic so you tend to feel absorbed in many activities. You wear your heart on your sleeve and express your emotions without a filter. Just like a child, you seek adventures and excitement and your outgoing personality helps you have various interesting experiences in your life.

In the 6th House of Daily Work and Health: Your fiery energy is focused on work and daily activities. You are very dedicated to your professional life and might even become a workaholic because you see no limits in what you can achieve through your work. However, keep in mind that the sixth house is also the health sector of your life. And you might suffer from burnout symptoms so often that you normalize them.

In the 7th House of Relationships: You fight for positive relationships. You might look for a partner with the same passionate energy as you and when you find them, you are fully committed to the relationship. However, this placement also facilitates conflicts between you and your partner. You are not afraid to use confrontation as a tool to strengthen your relationship.

In the 8th House of Transformation: You are attracted to transformative experiences that can completely change your life. You want to explore profound topics and reach a deep understanding of life, death, and everything in between. But this placement can also bring disagreements with your loved ones regarding a certain philosophical idea and not all these conflicts are worth entertaining.

In the 9th House of Travel and Philosophy: This house placing keeps you on the road a lot. Traveling and exploring new cultures comes naturally to you. You want to learn from every trip and enrich your life through your experiences. This placement also gives you an interest in philosophy and the hidden aspects of life. You seek spiritual enlightenment and have all the chances to achieve it.

In the 10th House of Career: You are supported to follow your life purpose. This placement speaks of your mission in the world and your capacity to make a positive impact through your example. You are very ambitious and want to achieve great success throughout your career. Also, your public image is very important to you and you invest in it constantly.

In the 11th House Aspirations and Social Life: This is visionary energy with all the passion it needs to manifest your highest aspirations. You are not so much focused on the present as you tend to be on the future. Most of your long-term goals need a tribe effort, which is why finding your tribe is very important to you. But once you have your people, you can be a great leader to them and get involved in all types of activism to make the point you want in the world.

In the 12th House of Spirituality: Your thoughts and actions are extraordinary. You want to grow spiritually and overcome all your fears and inner conflicts. This placement calls for an exceptional amount of introspection and self-awareness in order to increase the spiritual enlightenment you desire but you have what it takes.

How It’s Aspected

• Conjunctions: these enhance the energies of the planets involved in an almost explosive manner. Mars awakens the profound ambition and drive in everything it touches and fuels it with the strength it needs to manifest.
• Sextiles: Here, the energies involved flow in a harmonious and natural way. Mars brings the courage and fire the other planet needs to express its energy. This is one of the most beneficial aspects of astrology, along with the trines.
• Trines: These planets create a cosmic tango of passion and ambition. If the other planet involved is also a personal one (Venus, Mercury, the Moon, or the Sun), this can be a good omen for relationships and partnerships.
• Squares: Unlike the previous aspects, squares are not so positive but they bring incredible growth opportunities. These bring the courage you need to overcome challenges and tensions and the valuable lessons that come from such a cosmic narrative.
• Oppositions: These tense aspects can easily get out of control since the aggressive side of this planet is involved but we can learn to work with the energy of the other planet to tame the fire.

Associated Objects

Things associated with Mars in astrology; wrought iron, sport, war, battle, fire, armour, red stones, pepper, garlic, ginger, nettle.

Sources:

• Cartwright, Mark (2014): Mars. Ancient History Encyclopedia (now World History Encyclopedia).
• Parker, Julia (1995). The Astrologer’s Handbook. Chancellor Press.

This content, like all content on Stars and Paths, is entirely human-made.