Planets in Your Horoscope: Mars in Aries
May 9th, 2007 at 9:57 am (Planets and Signs in Astrology)
After what seems like an eternity, on May 16, 2007, Mars enters one of the two zodiac signs it rules, Aries. The ancients considered Aries to be a sign of bestial behavior and violence, due to its fiery Cardinal nature. As a Cardinal sign, Aries epitomizes the essence of the fiery element, and manifests it very intensely. Since Mars is a malefic, this gives us something of a scorched earth feel to the sign of Aries. For this reason, even though Mars rules Aries, the planet is considered slightly happier in its other domicile Scorpio, where the watery element defuses and transforms Mars’s hot, warlike energy.
As it passes through Aries, Mars will form a trine to Jupiter and Saturn, each of which is in one of the other fire signs. While the trine from Mars to Jupiter is largely positive, the Mars-Saturn connection is a little bit scary, especially since Mars is in the fall of Saturn when it is in Aries. This means that if you’re planning any major steps or ventures, do them before Mars trines Saturn on June 11, and shoot for the Jupiter contact on June 4 instead. Jupiter is in its own sign nowadays, and even though it is retrograde, it has the added nice effect of humanizing Mars’s animalistic intensity.
What does it mean to have Mars in Aries natally? For starters, congratulations. It is always excellent to have a planet in its own sign in your horoscope, even if it is one of the malefics. It means that you can use the energies of the planet, the house it rules, and any other associated planets constructively. For instance, if you have Mars ruling the fifth house of games, all other things being equal, you might be a pretty athletic, sporty type (unless you have a phlegmatic temperament!). It’s going to be important that Venus and Saturn are on the strong side in your chart, because Mars is in their detriment and fall, respectively. This means that Mars will have the power to harm Venus and Saturn types of things in your life. Hence, we would want the other two planets to be strong, in an ideal world.
The famous French novelist Emile Zola had Mars in Aries conjunct Mercury on the cusp of the fifth house of creativity. As a Naturalist writer, his goal was to mimic everyday reality in his writing, but also display the animalistic, sordid aspects of human nature. How fitting for the “animalistic” Aries!
Other Related Posts:
Jeffrey Kishner said,
May 9th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Welcome back! I have natal Mars in Aries in the 9th — I’ve earned two advanced degrees and do a lot of online publishing. My Venus is exalted in Pisces. My Saturn is in Taurus conjunct Mars. Would you consider Saturn to be in Mars’ detriment? Or do you only consider Libra to be Mars’ detriment?
gryphonastrology said,
May 9th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Hi Jeffrey,
Thank you - I’m glad you’re visiting. In traditional astrology, aspects cannot occur out of sign, no matter how close the planets. Thus, Saturn in Taurus is not conjunct Mars in Aries. This is good, because a conjunction from Saturn would be considered an affliction to Mars. Saturn in Taurus is in the detriment of Mars, however, regardless of lack of aspect.
Warmly,
Nina
Celice said,
May 10th, 2007 at 12:30 am
Nina I have Saturn in Aries in the 12th house. conjunct my Asc, natally. What affect would the trine have on me? My natal Mars is in Leo in the 4th house.
Thanks
Celice
Gary C said,
May 12th, 2007 at 10:51 am
Rob Hand said that ‘out of sign aspects work, but in a weird way’. I cant confirm or deny that–but I will be seeing him at a workshop and lecture in June, and if I get the chance, I will ask him to clarify that.
G.
Celice said,
May 13th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Thank you. I will also try and figure it out in the meantime.
Celice
gryphonastrology said,
May 14th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Hi Celice,
Okay, finally getting around to comments. I don’t think that transiting Mars by itself will do much to you. Take a look at your progs and solar returns and such. Saturn in fall in Aries conj the Ascendant is not the greatest, for sure, but unless you have a history of Mars triggering it, don’t worry about it too much.
Warmly,
Nina
gryphonastrology said,
May 14th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Hi Gary,
Yeah, I know. Rob Hand also uses the outer planets and such, so he is not what I would call a strictly traditional astrologer. He is a very good scholar, however.
Warmly,
Nina