Welcoming Mars into the Consulting Room

by Sheila R. Roher

© Sheila R. Roher - published by The Career Astrologer, September 2022 / 27.10.2022

Mars Retrograde: “Like an invitation from the Godfather”

Mars symbolizes a power and a daemon essential for living with vitality, passion, and purpose. Yet, the God of War doesn’t always get the respect he merits. Indeed, we often–individually or collectively—try to stuff Mars into a closet. But he’s everywhere, of course, not only at traditional Mars-ruled turfs like sporting events and wars but also in drive-by shootings and online trolling. And let’s face it, he’s often not at his best.

The retrograde pattern means that Mars, which usually transits a sign in two months, may now spend three times as long covering the same zodiacal real estate. Mars will traverse Gemini for seven months (from August 20, 2022, until March 25, 2023). A client with Mars in Cancer once said,

Mars retrograde is like an invitation from the Godfather. I can’t refuse or avoid it, and I know there will be blood on the table.

(Mars then spent six months in Aries, squaring my client’s Mars three times.)

Upbeat astrologers may say that retrograde Mars and shadow periods are great opportunities for people to pursue important quests. True. Yet many people find these periods more frustrating than satisfying. How can we do better? What does Mars really want? And why do we often have such difficulty integrating Mars into our lives?

In this essay, I’ll discuss some of the more common Mars issues I see in my consulting room and life. I’d also recommend two books I periodically revisit to delve more deeply into Mars. Both books were based on seminars conducted at the Center for Psychological Astrology:

• The Mars Quartet: Four Seminars on the Red Planet, led by Lynn Bell, Darby Costello, Melanie Reinhart, and Liz Greene
• The Inner Planets: Building Blocks of Personal Reality, with seminars led by Howard Sasportas and Liz Greene.

Mars’ dual hats: Guardian & Pioneer

Mars is the first planet beyond earth, the ambassador to the outer planets and beyond. He symbolizes both our first line of defense (guardians of the galaxies are martial figures!) and our adventuring impulse. In a nutshell, here are the red planet’s two vital roles:

• positive action in pursuit of a vital goal
• the capacity to defend ourselves against genuine threats

Sounds clear, doesn’t it? There can be an instinctual directness about Mars that is refreshingly clear. We all need to feel some sense of personal potency and power; when we don’t, something has gone badly wrong. But Mars, while not a ‘relationship planet,’ doesn’t work alone.

Mars’s fellow travelers: Phobos and Deimos

Mars has two moons, named after the two sons of Ares, Phobos, and Deimos. Phobos means “fear” or “panic,” and Deimos is translated as “dread” and “terror.”

One might think this describes the terror and dread that the God of War brings to others in his wake. But I think it more accurately describes the entire Martial journey. Mars often demands that we go beyond the comfortable. Whether we are forging a new path, defending against a threat, or simply seeking the thrill of risky adventures, fear/panic, and dread are part of the traveling party. Indeed, we seek it out in rollercoaster rides or horror films, welcoming Phobos and Deimos and taking a mysterious delight in our screams of terror and excitement.

But in real life, we may forget that fear and terror are natural companions on Martial adventures.

We may even shut down or avoid experiences or topics without knowing why. Phobias are often linked to Mars issues, reflecting a deeply blocked desire or fear that surfaces as avoidant or compulsive behaviors.

Is your Mars in service to the Sun?

The book mentioned above, The Mars Quartet, is dedicated to “All those who fight on the side of Life.” The dedication contains the idea that Mars should always be in service to the life-giving Sun. Howard Sasportas makes this explicit by describing Mars as a “henchman to the Sun.” (1)

But when Mars is poorly aspected or in difficult condition based on sign and house placement, linking Mars to the solar purpose may require unusual approaches or efforts. I’ve seen people with Sun square or opposite Mars signatures spend years projecting Mars onto someone else before starting to claim it for themselves. Mars in Cancer often must answer to the Moon before asserting himself on behalf of the Sun.

Sometimes, I ask clients to name their Mars in relation to their Sun. One client (with Sun in Pisces with Mars/Pluto conjunct in Scorpio) calls her Mars ‘Mafia Mars out to protect Mother Teresa.’ It works for her, giving her permission to be more honest about her own desires and passions. She no longer gives her power away to very controlling partners. She has also begun to claim more of her deeply passionate nature.

Mars and the pursuit of excellence

In her seminar on “Ardor, Desire, and Excellence,” (2) Darby Costello does an etymological deep dive, noting that the Greek word Ares is related to the Greek word arete, meaning ‘excellence” or fitness, e.g., a knife’s ‘arete’ is its sharpness. She further notes that arete in Greek translates to ‘virtus’ in Latin, the word from which we get virtue and man.

Darby weaves together the linguistic clues to suggest (quite convincingly to me) that we can and should cultivate our Mars placement as a path to excellence. Rather than relying on raw talent and passion, we should train our Mars with habits and practices that nourish a dedication to excellence and integrity.

I often use this idea to help a client with a Mars issue. What does excellence look like for a particular Mars? And how does it relate to their solar purpose? These questions are always in the background in my consulting room. (I’d love to hear how others may have adapted or utilized this approach.)

When Mars Goes Awry: Blocked, imploding, or exploding

Why is it so hard for many of us and our societies to ‘do Mars well’? Well, consider the keywords we often use for Mars: strife, will, want, sexual, aggressive, assertive, penetration, inflammation, anger, accidents & injury, cutting & forging. Remember, Mars rules knives, surgery, and butchering.

These words are, as a group, not generally welcomed in a modern, civilized society.

And yet they represent a crucial aspect of life. Inflammation and fevers are the body’s defensive response to pathogens; unchecked, they can cause damage, but we need them to fight off infections. Anger is often our first line of defense, letting us know that someone has transgressed our boundaries.

We shut down Mars at our peril. As Liz Greene reminds us,

A blocked Mars results in a feeling of impotence and victimization, and a great unconscious rage which can express itself in a variety of ways. (3)

Depression, for example, has been described as ‘anger turned inwards’ or “anger without enthusiasm,” as if the natural vitality that usually supports life has been thwarted from expression. The link between Mars and depression also often shows up as a loss of sexual interest or, alternatively, compulsive sexual activity.

But an unchecked Mars is just as dangerous. For example, political movements fueled by grievance and polarization may cast outsiders as ‘enemies’, leaving no room for compromise.

Passive aggression: when Mars refuses to act

Homer’s Iliad, one of the foundational documents of the Western canon, is subtitled “The Wrath of Achilles.” Dating from 8 BCE (though it may have been sung for hundreds of years before), it is a meditation on aggression, war, the desire for glory, and human nature. In one astonishing moment, Achilles, piqued and enraged when he’s not lauded as the greatest warrior of all, decides to sit out the war against Troy.

It’s a stunning example of Mars turning inwards, showing his power by refusing to act or engage. His refusal dooms many of his comrades (including his beloved friend Patroclus) to death. Total disaster is avoided only through the intercession of Athena, the warrior goddess, who uses her sword of discernment to forge a new way forward.

The epic describes many faces of Mars, including how misdirected anger may mask vulnerable feelings (e.g., humiliation and hurt). It also shows how the martial sword of discernment can cut through an instinctually imploded Mars. Martial arts are dedicated to the precise, strategic use of energy to achieve one’s goals.

Does Achille’s behavior seem extreme to you? This passive-aggressive Mars (“I’ll show him/her!”) is alive and well in our daily lives.

Here’s an example from my family vault. A much older (now deceased) relative once told me (pseudonyms are used here), “Did you know I didn’t speak to (her brother-in-law) Uncle Saul for ten years?”. Shocked, I said, “No, I never heard that! How did he respond?” Nodding calmly, she said, “He never knew. When I saw him, he would say hello, and I would just nod.” Saul made an insensitive comment after she had suffered a miscarriage. With a highly sensitive Mars in a water sign, this woman imploded, channeling her hurt and rage into a controlling behavior that blocked contact for years.

Of course, the depth of her pain (and covering rage) related to the miscarriage not her brother-in-law’s comment. When Mars misdirects his firepower, people can stay angry and/or disconnected for years and never resolve the deeper issue which triggered the Martial shutdown. How often do clients report disconnected family or friend relationships, where painful emotions smolder below, masked by ‘righteous’ anger? This is a call for Athena, the martial goddess, to bring discernment to a deeply blocked situation.

Cultural, Religious, and Familial Attitudes towards Mars

We all imbibe attitudes towards Mars from our cultural/religious/familial influences.

In the short story “The Labor of Hercules,” Agatha Christie’s detective Hercules Poirot contrasts his reliance on ‘the little gray cells’ with his namesake, concluding,

Hero, indeed! What was he but a large muscular creature of low intelligence and criminal tendencies! If that was the Greeks’ idea of a hero, then measured by modern standards it certainly would not do. (4)

As Liz Greene points out, ancient Greeks were not that impressed with Ares. (5) They, like Poirot, viewed him as a brute (but one you wanted on your side in a fight). As William Lilly reminds us, his only friend among the other planets is Venus6, where they unite in passion.

Classical Rome, on the other hand, held a much more positive attitude towards Mars. As the father of Romulus, co-founder of Rome, Mars was key to their foundational story of identity. The Roman Mars was highly dignified, skilled, honorable, and (at least in the Roman ideal and self-image) able to control passion in pursuit of his larger goals.

Early Christianity, with its ‘turn the other cheek’ concept, presented a difficult challenge to the task of Martial self-defense. (Once Christians gained political power, they ignored that teaching and demonstrated remarkable violence in the typical names of revenge and righteousness.)

Some contemporary New Age circles propose an ‘all harmony, all the time’ vision, which somehow mystically negates the need to struggle for survival (physically or psychologically).

Also, in many societies, the acceptability of martial attributes is gendered in various ways, although that topic is very much in flux. It’s worth reflecting on what messages you received about Mars from your family and cultural models.

For me, growing up Jewish and reading comic books gave me a rich pantheon of martial figures to draw from, each expressing different superpowers along with fears and dread. Consider how Superman behaved under stress and see if you relate:

• He periodically retreated to a ‘fortress of solitude’ to express his true self.

• He showed vulnerability only when confronted with Kryptonite, those green toxic rocks from his child-hood planet.

Like many of us, Superman was haunted by childhood losses and became paralyzed in the face of suppressed feelings. Before we knew the term “fight, flight, or freeze’, the modes of martial defense were encoded in Superman comics. He was able to assert his Mars on behalf of others, but in the face of his own suppressed feelings became weak and powerless. Only the costume and cape make this unusual.

MARS IN THE CONSULTING ROOM

Three ways to invite Mars to show up

I use the usual astrological tools to understand Mars in client charts, checking his position by the element, sign, aspect, condition, and house placements. But I often use one or more of the following questions to understand how each person is living their Mars.

How does Mars feel?

We are living in an increasingly dis-embodied virtual world. But Mars (along with the Moon) is one of our most instinctual and body-based planets. If I sense someone is not in touch with their Mars, I may ask,

When you get irritated, angry, or impatient, where do you feel it in your body? Does your neck get tight? Do you, for example, feel a reddening or heat somewhere in your body, or a tightening in the chest or shoulders or something else?

Too often, people block themselves from knowing how they feel, especially around anger or desires. There are good reasons to block Mars: their anger and/or desires are likely to shake up the security of their world. It may take some people days or weeks, or longer to realize that they’re annoyed or feeling a strong want. (People in air signs may find this particularly difficult; look at the ruler of Mars to get a sense of where clues to martial anger or fear may first surface).

How does Mars work for your goals?

When you’re in a group of people, and the question is ‘where would you like to go for dinner’, are you comfortable stating what you’d like?

This very simple question links Mars (desire/want) with the Moon (nourishment), our two most instinctual planets. It’s fascinating how many people (especially women, or at least it seems that way in my practice) find it hard to know and say what they want. They are too concerned that their ‘want’ will annoy or evoke conflict with another person’s want. In other words, they’re willing to block their Mars to avoid conflict, even when it’s not a genuine threat.

A client recently answered the question: “Well, I do sometimes say what I want, but then I say I’m happy to accommodate to whatever else anyone wants.” She is saying, ‘I have a preference, but I’ll put no will behind it; I will not separate from the group or risk a conflict.”This client has suffered years of immune-disorder issues following childhood sexual abuse; thwarted Mars’s anger and desire are very difficult for her to express. For this client, simply affirming her right to speak has required much work. It’s a vivid example of how we always negotiate between our individual survival and safety and our collective security and connection.

Is Mars working for you or someone else?

Can you give me an example in the past few months when you advocated for yourself?

I have clients who, when I prompt, “tell me a time when you got angry” will respond with something around a social issue (protesting about the environment, seeking a better policy on a social issue, etc.).

That’s my cue to use this question, which I first heard during my first visit to a professional astrologer many years ago.

The astrologer was Kathy Merlin, and the session changed my life. At the time, I was active in both the feminist and lesbian/gay liberation movements (we had not yet expanded our alphabet), but my life wasn’t working well. Kathy’s question brought home the schism between my advocating for causes (which were indeed personal as well as political) and my inability or unwillingness to know and pursue aggressively whatever I selfishly, individually, and personally wanted. Kathy Merlin diagnosed a critical issue for me within 20 minutes, which was astonishing. And to make it practical, she was able to point me in the direction of a body-based therapy to help liberate a very instinctual Mars, which enabled me to grow more effective and vital in key aspects of my life.

Always check midpoints

I tend to work primarily with what Rob Hand calls ‘direct’ midpoints—that is, when the midpoints of two planets form a conjunction or opposition to a third planet. Those three planets are then powerfully linked in ways often not otherwise seen. I use an orb of two degrees or less; as usual, the closer the orb, the more powerful the signature. (For those new to midpoints, I’d recommend the section in Robert Hand’s Horoscope Symbols (7) as an excellent introduction.)

I don’t spend as much time as I’d like to on midpoints, just because–well, there’s a limit of how much prep I’m willing to do. However, I do always check midpoint trees for personal planets as well as midpoints for crucial transits or eclipse points. As Robert Hand notes, midpoints “often give information that would not otherwise be available in the chart.” (8)

Consider this client example of an accomplished artist and teacher with Sun in Gemini. Almost all her seven classical planets are in water or air, so her natural orientation modes are towards both deep feeling and a tendency to live through ideas. The exception is her earthy Moon in Capricorn, a placement traditionally considered detrimental for the Moon. Instead of being moist and life-giving, it is contained and seeking security through boundaries, which can complicate the Moon’s need for nourishment and embodied experience.

But her Moon is conjunct the midpoint between Mars and Uranus (quite tightly within 15’). That brings an explosive element to a planet seeking nourishment, connection, and safety. The client knew some astrology, so I described her Moon as ‘a very unusual Moon in Capricorn’, one that is generally self-protective (needing security and boundaries) but unknown to itself is sitting astride a powerful Harley-Davidson that has no brakes. (I was seeking to open the door to a discussion about Mars and the Moon.)

She then volunteered that she’s experienced eating disorders for decades and has been in therapy and/or on medications to deal with it. I asked whether she also engaged in cutting (Mars likes to cut, and Uranus seeks separation), and she said, “yes, that too.” The midpoint picture for this Moon in Capricorn immediately captures the powerful dilemma she faces: how can she feel some control and security in embodiment and satisfy the Mars/Uranus yearning to break free? The midpoint data crystallized an issue that was vital for her health and might have taken much longer to emerge without this powerful tool.

I suggested that somatic psychotherapy (e.g., Reichian, bioenergetics, polyvagal) might be of greater use to her than talk therapy. (Her planets in air love to intellectualize and dis-associate from embodiment). This woman is not destined to have a conventional approach to emotional security and physical pleasure. But by engaging a somatic therapy (to express her Moon in Capricorn) and drawing on the great courage signaled by Mars/Uranus, she may experience a greater sense of appreciation for the physical vessel her spirit is occupying.

Closing Thoughts

Mars is not a comfortable planet, but it’s vital for exploration and defense.

Psychologist-researcher Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who studied ‘flow states’, (heightened states of creativity) found that one needed both concentration and the challenge of tasks somewhat beyond one’s comfort level. Excellence requires a challenge.

Mars’ long sojourn in Gemini will pose new questions and challenges. May we all up our Mars game and respond creatively in the pursuit of excellence!

References:
1 Liz Greene & Howard Sasportas, The Inner Planets: Building Blocks of Personal Reality (York Beach, Maine: Weiser Books, 1993), p.233.
2 Lynn Bell, Darby Costello, Liz Greene, & Melanie Reinhart, The Mars Quartet: Four Seminars on the Astrology of the Red Planet (London: CPA Press, 2001), pp.90-97.
3 Greene & Sasportas, op cit, p. 188.
4 Agatha Christie, Complete Short Stories of Hercule Poirot, Kindle Loc 12631. In that same story, we learn that Hercule had a brother named Achille but “only for a short period of time.” Perhaps Achille Poirot, like his namesake, gave his life in a great war, since Christie began writing in the period following the first world war.
5 Greene & Sasportas, op cit, p. 185.
6 William Lilly, Christian Astrology (Astrology Classics: Bel Air, Md, 2004), p. 68.
7 Robert Hand, Horoscope Symbols (Atglen, PA: Whitford Press, 1981), pp. 149-168.
8 Ibid, p. 150.

Published in: The Career Astrologer, September 2022.

Author:
Sheila Roher, MPH began studying astrology in the early 1980s, just in time for the Saturn/Pluto conjunction in Libra. At the time she was actively involved in feminist and queer movements, and watched the astrology explode on the street. She studied horary astrology with the School for Traditional Astrology. After a career in health-related fields, she now has a private astrology practice, offers local workshops, and hosts an online group Reading Lilly for astrologers. She will be speaking at the AA conference in September 2022. She can be reached at www.astrologyforgrowth.com

© 2022 - Sheila R. Roher - The Career Astrologer

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