Mars

The planet of action, energy, and initiative

Mars In Astrology

Mars is the planet of action, energy, and initiative, the celestial body that guides what we do, and how we do it. Are you a real go-getter or more of a wallflower? Does most of your passion go toward career goals, artistic ambitions, or family pursuits? When it comes to the energy you put in, that’s Mars’ influence impacting your life.

Fast Mars Facts

Zodiac sign Mars rules: Aries

Exalted in: Capricorn

House Mars rules: 1st House of Self

Mars retrogrades: Once every 2 years, each retrograde lasting around 10 weeks

Mars stays in each zodiac sign for: 6-7 weeks

Mars makes a complete trip through the zodiac: About every 2 years

Mars and Aries

Mars the red planet rules over the fire sign Aries. These two have been linked since ancient times as Mars is the Roman God of War, and Ares is the Greek God of War. Mars is a planet of great action, aggression, and drive, influencing what we do, and how we do it, and enhancing the active energy of Aries. Mars is considered a pioneer and a penetrator of new territory — just like the Aries the Ram.

Mars and the 1st House of Self

With drive and determination, Mars leads the zodiac as the ruler of the 1st House of Self. The 1st house is a representation of your overall self — the personality and traits that make you uniquely you. This house is all about independence and the desire to create, identify, and deepen the sense of self.

Mars’ Lessons

Mars, the warrior planet, is active and energetic, an initiator and instigator. It is the first planet outside the Earth’s orbit around the Sun, representing its role as a pioneer. Its red color reflects the passion that motivates action, and it is also associated with anger. Mars in a birth chart describes the ways we express anger, which for many people is indirect or simply suppressed. The negative ideas we have about this emotion are echoed in traditional Astrology’s designation of Mars as the lesser malefic, a “bad” planet, but not as difficult as the greater malefic, Saturn.

Regardless of our individual twists on Mars based on our birth charts and life experiences, we’re concerned with its essential qualities that are, with some practice, available to everyone. A key reason why people don’t express their anger is the belief that doing so will hurt others.

The secret to tapping into the fire of dynamic Mars is to get off the fence and take action (even when you’re not fully prepared). This isn’t about going public with a major plan before you’re ready, but it’s about taking at least one small step in a specific direction. You don’t have to know every detail about how you will navigate new territory, but you will gain information when you’re in motion that you don’t get when you’re standing still. Learning on the fly and learning from direct experience are positive ways to engage Mars and get stagnant projects off the ground.

Mars is physical, and it is energized when we move our bodies. Toning our muscles aligns us with the force-delivering power of the red planet. It’s not necessary, though, to run marathons to make this happen. Just start walking, dancing, swimming, practicing yoga, or whatever you can do to stir up the life force Mars delivers. Building more physical strength increases self-confidence, and it can even provide more courage for taking risks.

Mars’ job is not to complete tasks but to get them started. Tuning into its potency doesn’t require a lifelong commitment, nor does it demand precision and perfection. A wise warrior is willing to experiment, and that warrior recognizes which battles are worth continuing and which are not. Mars serves us well when we live in the present as consciously and fully as we can with less concern about what tomorrow will bring.