Mars

Origin and etymology

The name Mars comes from Mars, Roman god of war and, originally, also of agriculture — fertile spring and the cycle of cultivation were his domains. His Greek equivalent is Ares, much more violent and less respected in the Greek pantheon than his Roman version. Mars was the symbolic father of Rome (Romulus and Remus were his sons in myth) and a central figure of Roman military identity.

Astronomically, Mars has a notable reddish colour caused by iron oxide on its surface. That is why the ancients associated it with blood, fire and war: the "red planet" naturally led to war. As traditionally a lesser malefic planet (Saturn was the greater malefic), Mars represents what hurts, cuts, separates — but also what defends and pushes to action.

What Mars rules

Mars represents the active life force: desire, libido, assertiveness, the ability to fight for what you want, defence of one's own, useful anger that protects boundaries. In a healthy psyche, Mars is courage and drive. In shadow, Mars is uncontrolled aggression, impulsivity, violence, accidents. Its position in your chart marks how you express your energy and desire.

Mars takes approximately 2 years to traverse the zodiac. Every 18-25 months it is retrograde for 2-2.5 months: a period when Martian energy turns inward, it is not the time to start outer battles but to review one's own aggression and desires. Its transits over your natal chart can bring important impulses to action or, badly handled, conflicts and accidents.

Mars in your chart

Look at the sign and house of your natal Mars. Sign: how you express aggression and desire (Mars in Aries = direct, frontal; Mars in Pisces = oblique, indirect, avoids open conflict). House: in which area of life you fight with most energy (Mars in House II = for money; House VII = in partnership, which can generate arguments; House X = in profession). Badly aspected Mars can signal areas of chronic conflict.