Emotional Navigation

Mars is the planet of initiation, assertion, will power, courage, desire, and yes, aggression and warring! Fear not, above all, Mars is here to assist. It governs the blood in our veins and powers all of our muscles. It also governs that drive, you know, the one responsible for reproduction, and ensures humanity's survival.

Still, Mars is viewed as a malefic, and it certainly can be! The Greeks referred to Mars as Ares, the god of courage and war, or, more accurately, the spirit of battle. He was the son of Zeus and Hera and one of the twelve Olympians. It is said that the other gods were ambivalent towards him and that he was unpopular among the Greeks. To them, he represented disrespectful and distasteful warfare.

There are two sides to Mars, as there are to everything in this dualistic reality. Fundamentally, Mars represents life-force energy and also destructive energy. Think zodiac signs governed by Mars: Aries, life force energy, and Scorpio, destructive energy. If the thermodynamic concept of entropy had an archetype, it would be Mars.

In traditional astrology, Mars has rulership over Aries and Scorpio and is in detriment in their opposite signs, Libra and Taurus. Mars is exalted in Capricorn and is in fall in its opposite sign, Cancer. If detriment is challenging to the native, fall is extremely challenging and borderline burdensome.

In the domain of Cancer, the energy is soft and nurturing. Mars, associated with heat, fire, and battlegrounds, is comforted by Momma Moon here. She whispers, “Dear red one, you look hot and tired. Relax while Momma Moon cools you off with the many oceans I govern.” This primordial dynamic is one of smothering. But a Mars in Cancer native loves to be smothered; they long for the comfort and care from Momma Moon to be replicated by another. However, for better or worse, these natives project this longing by unconsciously smothering those they cherish most.

In traditional astrology, when a planet is in fall, it is said to feel imprisoned. Exalted is likened to kingship and being highly favored, while the opposite, fallen, is likened to servitude and is not so favored. The Mars in Cancer native is highly perceptive of emotional currents, they are sensitive, they feel all the feels. This often leads to overwhelm. These natives tend to retreat to avoid feeling trapped by surrounding emotions; they much prefer self-isolation.

Assertion is typically prohibited for servants. Mars in Cancer natives struggle to make a decision. Their ability to initiate is challenged as well; it waxes and wanes just like Momma Moon. They are not particularly courageous, but they are, however, fiercely protective, like a momma bear is to her cub. Reminiscent of that smothering energy.

Not-so-favored energy manifests as being overlooked, passed by, ignored, and dismissed. Mars in Cancer natives tolerate this but again self-isolate to avoid it. As expected, Mars in Cancer does have a boiling point. Traditional astrology teaches that planets in fall “act out” by going to extremes to be acknowledged. When the boiling point occurs, prepare for a highly emotional, wildly chaotic, full-blown crash out. Otherwise, on a regular day, there’s a lot of pick me energy surrounding them.

So what's the evolutionary point of this placement? In Cancer, in its fall, Mars is in its most difficult position. Here, the spirit of battle turns internal. Here, Mars is confronted with vulnerability. Here, the real and necessary conflicts are with the self. All the “feelings” that overwhelm and ultimately weaken Mars’ energy must be confronted. The native who reconciles these internal conflicts steps into a powerful position. The one who battles and conquers their own emotions has built an internal foundation that can not be shaken, disrupted, or disturbed. This is a warrior filled with compassion for the self and therefore for others. This is a coveted warrior. This is the ultimate warrior.