By Edwin Martinez Rodriguez

Core Attributes of Mars

• Force and Conflict: Mars represents raw, unfiltered energy—action driven by instinct rather than reflection. It symbolizes confrontation, whether external or internal.

• Courage vs. Cowardice: This dichotomy lies at the heart of Mars. It governs how we respond to challenges—whether we meet them head-on with courage or retreat in fear.

• Agitation as a Catalyst: Mars’ influence is often uncomfortable, bringing tension and upheaval. However, this agitation can lead to necessary change or destruction, depending on how we engage with its energy.

• Fire and Heat: As a fiery and choleric planet, Mars embodies sharpness, intensity, and the transformative power of fire—destructive yet purifying.

Mars in Myth and Archetype

• The Wrathful God: In Babylonian and Sumerian myth, Mars connects to the underworld and its shadows, embodying the primal force of rage, danger, and survival instincts.

• Villain Archetype: Mars energy often aligns with the "villain" arc, not in a moral sense but as a figure that catalyzes growth through conflict, disruption, or rebellion against stagnation.

The Martial Element

• Fire and Bitter Taste: Mars rules over everything sharp, burning, and hot. From fiery spices (red pepper, mustard) to poisonous or stinging plants (nettle, hellebore), these symbolize the intense and often dangerous vitality of Mars.

Astrological Role

• Domicile: Aries (action, initiation, independence), Scorpio (transformation, power, intensity).

• Exaltation: Capricorn (discipline, controlled ambition, structured energy).

• Fall: Cancer (emotional vulnerability, lack of clarity in action).

• Detriment: Taurus and Libra (conflicts between Mars' assertive nature and the Venusian qualities of harmony and stability).

The Duality of Mars

• Creative Destruction: Mars energy is necessary for clearing away the old, making space for growth. It’s the battlefield from which new life emerges.

• Awakener of Willpower: It pushes us to act, assert boundaries, and take risks, even if the experience feels harsh or unsettling.

Practical Applications

• Appeasing Mars: Engaging in rituals or practices that honor Mars can help balance its intense energy. Martial activities such as physical exercise, martial arts, or fiery, transformative rituals align with Mars' essence.

• Harnessing Mars Energy: Channeling Mars constructively involves embracing challenges with determination and transforming anger or agitation into purposeful action.

What is the significance of having a piece of Mars?

To hold a piece of Mars is to be chosen by the red god, entrusted with its raw and transformative energy. In ancient and planetary philosophy, a Martian stone is believed to carry the latent virtues of courage, action, and resilience, serving as a conduit between the material and celestial realms. This powerful talisman aids in channeling Mars' fiery, primal force, helping to transform conflict, agitation, and fear into growth and strength. From a Neoplatonic perspective, Marsilio Ficino viewed the planets as guiding forces for the soul, each offering unique powers and shaping human destiny. He believed that aligning with the celestial spheres allowed one to imitate their divine movement and harmonize the inner self with the cosmos. A piece of Mars, then, is not merely a fragment of a planet but a link to the transformative energy of the heavens. As Ficino advises:

“They say Mars sometimes imitates the Sun in some of his gifts, and that Venus bestows things which belong to the Moon. Remember these things, then, in doing all this. Never ignore the terminal positions. For they say that the planets in their different terminal positions make things opposite to light or dark. Thus, when you fear Mars, place him against Venus. When you fear Saturn, stick to Jove. Do this work so that you are turning in perpetual motion with these powers, avoiding fatigue, so that you will set the right emotion against the external motions that are secretly harmful, and so that you will imitate the heavenly movement for the sake of its powers.” – The Book of Life

How do you recommend working with Mars now with the current astrology?

In ancient philosophy, the overwhelming “passions” tied to Mars were seen as poisons—forces that could consume and destroy if left unchecked. Under its current astrological influence, Mars reveals dangerous urges that threaten us physically, emotionally, and spiritually, reflecting the primal instincts symbolized by animals like serpents, wolves, and dragons. Our task is not to deny these forces but to master our response. As Mars reveals its consuming and destructive nature in this phase, be vigilant, disciplined, and intentional in channeling its fire into productive and transformative action.

Mars Retrograde in Cancer Horoscopes

Jan. 6 - Apr. 17, 2025

Mars in Aries:

Would be finding their match sticks soaked, fuel spilled and the fumes of burnout lingering in the winds. This is a time when the domiciled Martian has to step back from hasty actions and quick thinking and allow for emotion to be felt instead of acted upon. Ares invites you to observe which emotions you take and run with preemptively. Take a step back and allow the steam to cool down. Boiling water burns quickly. 

Mars In Taurus:

When the stern and stubborn Mars brings waters of inevitable change to the environment, home, and mother figures in our life both biological and chosen. The inevitable feelings of change are brought forward via Martian trials and tribulations. This change arrives through Martian heat but might be necessary to move the stagnant resources and earth (Taurus) to build something worth fertilizing and growing. Taking the untamed Taurean jungle and opening waterways to cardinal watery change. The emotion of the landscape changes as our temper cools here.

Mars in Gemini:

Your thoughts are racing quicker than the emotions can be processed and the tongue will speak with the sharpness of the knife at this moment for you, Gemini. Hermes, your lord of words and quicksilver comebacks opposes this Mars in Cancer and warns us of breaking apart from resources due to bad tempers and then wanting to take back that which we have cast with our tongue, a difficult feat for you Mars in Gemini. Starting conversations and actions from a hot head leads us to uncomfortable situations, keep an eye out and your favorite evil tongue charm with you! 

Mars in Cancer:

The crab has outgrown its shell fellow Martian. A two-year cycle and campaign comes to an end and asks you once again if it’s worth being in the environment you do not enjoy and feel most comfortable in. What is currently inflaming the soul and planting seeds of change in you that will not blossom until you water that garden with something other than propane fuel? The Martian remediation here would allow you to see where the red god shows up in our immediate environment and body. Baths of oats for the body inflammation and rashes along with cool milk and ice cream to cool down the heating constitution. 

Mars in Leo:

The soldier’s kingdom has turned its back against the sword that protected its sacred oaths here. As Mars, the red god, paused in the first face of Leo, he unmasked the false royals in his court, revealing those who lack authenticity or integrity. This shift influences the dynamics of our personal relationships, causing us to reevaluate and see changes in the environment and reception of those within our inner circle. With Mars in Leo, we see a debaucherous soldier who will fight for his kingdom without judgment to how vile the marching orders may be. What images emerge out of the abstract stains of the blood on our swords for a cause we did not believe in? We are asked to see the BIGGER picture here, Leo after all you are ruled by the Sun. Once Mars returns to Leo on April 19th, 2025, the Sun in his exalted throne of Aries welcomes you back into the kingdom with marching orders. Do you raise your sword for a cause you might not completely believe in yet? Take this retrogradation to observe the goals your kingdom wants to achieve this Martian season. 

Mars in Virgo: 

Our cunning coder and trickster cannot stop the raving of the mind and the churning of the stomach in response! She needs some mint tea, an 8 pack of highlighters, and a green sketchbook to dump out the many ideas lurking in the mind, Virgo. You will see Hermes from the temple of Mar’s exaltation land a boon of Saturnian focus and the hand over the right ancient sigil that opens the inundations of organization and navigating problems. Not a time to problem solve but to actually lay out the action plan for your environment to reflect the order you will always stress over. If your environment and body remain unkept the Virgoan task list will never end! Baby steps as our little pal Hermes would suggest ;)

Mars in Libra:

We see the inability to relay information clashing with hostile environments and people that exacerbate that frustration. The opinionated Mars in matters of harmony is bringing emotional conversations that break Venusian tea parties! Hasty commitments, contracts and brunches that might be placing you in a ticking time bomb instead of the missions toward achieving a relationship or business contracts or friendship at the moment. Re-acess the environments you find these in and the kinds of topics you share in common or DONT! Both lead us to clarity. 

Mars in Scorpio:

The Martian embryo breaks to reveal the stagnant waters of the last two years of our life. Since October of 2022 when Mars conjoined the Sun in the third face of the scorpion we saw the beginning of the excavations of our demons and catacomb of past lives, loves and lusts. The Martian demands you cleanse the cave of the tainted fluids and film that covers the upper surface of your well. Getting through the layer of emotional drudge here would be the goal for the scorpion. Moving past the wards that block us from reaching the chamber of the heart and allowing for the sweet waters to inundate the puddle of septic waste that has built up over the course of this Martian cycle. Fresh waters, rivers and oceans will do well for the scorpions, something deeper and bigger than your own obsessions. 

Mars in Sagittarius:

We see the Martian god, bound to no land, prophet, or deity beyond the fire within his own chest, reflecting on the many places he has journeyed. From the flames of desire he sparked, many were inspired to charge forward, yet now, as he looks back, he sees how few truly understood the mission, the environment, or the path they were treading. What happens when our inspiration can only take us so far before the truth of our environmental factors sway the terrain and view of the land? When the slope becomes a mountain and the river becomes the funeral bed for Lady Kronos. Synthesizing and updating our expectations and pace toward our Leonic goals is the invitation with this Martian retrograde. Leaning and searching for the focus that is found in the Scorpions lair something our Sagittarian friends sometimes lack! 

Mars in Capricorn:

The soldier's body is only as strong as his mental health. The Martian here is worlds away from the comfort, health and vitality they have when the red god is blazing and exalted. Here we see the maneuvering of one’s expectations and flow with the sudden disruptions of fate. This transit strongly urges us to pay close attention to our Lunar and maternal figures, as their fortunes may bring stressors that affect us as well. This is a moment where the Martian must wisely choose the environments they will fight in and for.  The decision to engage in an unjust, unproductive conflict—even the most unfair wars—simply because you can, inevitably leads to regret and misjudgments. Lacking your sharp comebacks and ability to take decisive action, you may start to question your current level of valor—and find it wanting. Like Ogun, the red god must retreat to the forest to focus on refining his iron, rather than wielding it recklessly to cause division and destruction.The way to the root of the matter is leading with Venus when the environments invite us to use our weapons unwisely. This Lunation showing you exactly where the excess lies should be used to create an action plan toward a different bounty besides seeing red. 

Mars in Aquarius:

Our distant friend in an unfamiliar land receives a book of wisdom and guidance from the exiled priest, offering aid with their martial struggles! A verse from your favorite religious book, an affirmation from your favorite guru, a quote from your favorite book serves to bring imagination and ideas of ways you can influence your environments and make a genuine impact. We observe this airy sign lacking any connection to the waters of Cancer, yet the waning Moon cries out in opposition as it moves from the full Moon in Cancer into Leo, directly challenging that inquisitive soldier. When the questioner is treated poorly, it creates a bias that shapes the dynamics of everyone involved. Keeping this in mind and understanding the distance a bird's-eye view can truly provide is crucial during this retrograde. It all culminates on April 19, 2025, as the red god departs the rivers and enters the Leonine kingdom, casting a spotlight directly on you, Aquarius. Do you know what you’ll ask, say, influence with? Did the priest hand us the right incantation for our sword or did we miss the last sentence because we were annoyed that day? Choices. 

Mars in Pisces:

The soldier sacrifices everything for a drop of the life-giving waters of faith. The chalice only filled with muddied waters will not allow us to turn her into wine. Here we would ask the Piscean if it’s worth the bandwidth? Do we have the emotional structure necessary to pacify the passions of the mind and desire? Can we sedate the lust and anxious desires that circle back at least once a day in our minds? How do you drain your Piscean well and where are you getting your fresh refreshing perspectives from? Ask yourself that question and look at the reflection of the water in your scrying bowl, the truth is behind the jovial theurgy that will show you where the sweet water lies. This is a retrograde about bringing in sweet waters to pacify/renew that which is currently stagnant.