Mars Pluto is hoving back into view aiming for a direct opposition on the 27th; with the Sun squaring Mars and Pluto in the days before. All of which will add up to an aggravated and frustrating finish to what has already been a tumultuous month. The edgy mood will run into the middle of May when the opposition wanes.
Mars Pluto hard aspects (conjunction, square, opposition) tend to coincide with ruthless actions or disasters. The Hamas attack of 7 October 2023 had Mars in Libra square Pluto. The Ukraine Invasion of 23 February 2022 a Mars Pluto in Capricorn conjunction.
Digging through my event file: A devastating Iran Iraq earthquake of 12 November 2017 had a Mars in Libra square Pluto. The Zebrugge ferry sinking which killed 193 on 6 March 1987 happened on an exact Mars in Taurus opposition Pluto; when tr Pluto was already hovering around the opposition to the UK 8th house Mars. The Andres Plane crash of 13 October 1972 happened on a Mars Pluto in Libra conjunction. The Titanic sinking of 14 April 1912 happened with Pluto in late Gemini conjunct Mars in Cancer (with Mars inconjunct Uranus). The Titanic Hull laying of 31 March 1909 which is effectively its ‘birth chart’ had Mars (Uranus) inconjunct Pluto.
Not all disasters or conflicts have Mars Pluto hard aspects; and since they come round usually three times a year they are part of the roller coaster of life and do not portend the end of times.
The recent ones: Mars Pluto conjunct in Aquarius on 13 Feb 2024 – Israel launches an airstrike on Lebanon on the 14th. A Kansas shooting also on the 14th. Trump is fined $354 million in a New York Civil Fraud case on the 16th.
Mars in Taurus square Pluto in Aquarius June 11 2024 – Hunter Biden is convicted on gun felony charges; with Florida floods on the 12th.
4 November 2024 Mars in Cancer opposition Pluto in Capricorn. Trump was elected on the 5th.
From a previous September 2024 post:
Mars will dominate this winter as it moves through Cancer in opposition to Pluto from late October, going retrograde early December and staying within orb till after the USA Inauguration in late January. It goes direct late February and moves into Leo from mid April picking up the Pluto opposition until mid May.
Mars opposition Pluto tends to feel blocked, frustrating, trapped, powerless and infuriated. On occasion it brings high-risk and crises. Progress will only come after superhuman efforts, meeting force with force. Mars Pluto can move mountains but it will take courage and unrelenting determination.
Understanding the nature of Mars, also a previous post.
Mars, god of war, testosterone-fuelled and so competitive he would kick his father out of the way to get ahead, may have had a heroic image in ye olden times. But he/she is struggling to revision themselves in these non-binary, tree-hugging, #metoo sensitive days.
Broken down into simple words Mars is 1) assertive; 2) argumentative and competitive; 3) bolsters identity in ‘I want’; 4) provides forward gear; 5) is an essential factor in decision-making); 6) necessary for sex drive; 7) generates will-power and the life force. Without Mars there would be no life, no reproduction, no progress.
Mars is usually thought of as angry. But anger is only stored up assertion. When ‘I want’, ‘I intend’, ‘I will do’ – all of them reflecting the core identity of the individual – gets blocked or remains unexpressed Mars slowly starts to boil until it erupts. Synonyms for assertion are – decisive, believing in oneself, self-assured, confident, forceful. All of those can be subtly conveyed – or not – depending on the sign Mars sits in.
Mars in the Fire signs – Aries, Leo and Sagittarius – will be loud, inclined to flare up, outspoken and unselfconscious about demanding their own way. In Aries and Sagittarius squalls never last long and are soon forgotten. In Leo, being ego-centric and Fixed, there can be a prickly defensiveness hanging around after arguments.
Mars in the Earth signs – Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn – can be slow burn and is usually focused on a practical or financial outcome. Mars in Taurus is slow to anger but earth-shaking when the lava erupts. Money will be what motivates them into action. Mars in Virgo, the workaholic, is a perfectionist. In Capricorn is super-ambitious, climbing ever higher up the ladder with steely determination.
Mars in the Water signs – Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces – is more problematic. Fire makes Water boil is quintessentially true of Mars in Cancer, which is volatile and gets over-emotional when provoked. Scorpio, secretive as ever, harbours a grinding resentment which is kept under control until the time is right and then the scorpion sting is let loose. In Pisces, Mars gets flummoxed since Pisces hate confrontations. Where the pair come together most effectively are in artistic ventures especially dance and yoga. Forward march to Pisces means taking the roundabout route.
Mars in the chatty Air signs – Gemini, Libra, Aquarius – pumps fire into thinking and speaking. All good debaters and adept with words. Mars in Aquarius can be ornery, awkwardly stubborn.
How Mars integrates in the chart and which planets it sidles up to or clashes with makes a difference. The essential nature of Mars in its chosen sign gets modulated, watered down or the opposite, depending on which other planetary energy it has to work beside.
Sun conjunct Mars is competitive and courageous; in square and opposition doubly so, headstrong, willful, reckless and noisy.
Moon Mars – comes from the angry mother who blocks the child’s assertion, leaving issues with women/domestic life behind in adult life, quarrelsome. Alcohol tends to lift inhibitions so flare ups follow.
Mercury Mars – quick thinking, fast-talking and sharp-tongued, inclined to argue endlessly and stir up controversies.
Venus Mars – in conjunction can be passionately enthusiastic and, in some, a tendency to promiscuity. In square and opposition it leads to strong ‘romantic’ attractions but not always sensitivity to the other’s needs.
Jupiter Mars – high vitality plus positive thinking = good luck. Helpful for starting new projects.
Saturn Mars – blocked assertion can have positive outcome in self-discipline and promoting a military turn of mind where suppressing personal needs and identity for a specific purpose is helpful. Can be destructive, violent. Tends to be passive-aggressive. Simmers with resentment and then blows a fuse.
Uranus Mars – rebellious and freedom-loving plus fiery zeal can be an explosive and self-willed combination. Good for high-risk ventures, adventure and thrills. Bad for tolerating interference and compromise.
Neptune Mars – can attract publicity and glamour, common in showbusiness types. Has a hint of Mars in Pisces so not always good at full-frontal demands.
Pluto Mars – a challenging combination stemming from a dominating, scary father who at times would feel life threatening. Leaves behind an adult who is good in crisis situations and is do-or-die determined. Some turn ruthless since it was what they knew, others remain suppressed and attract difficulties because they are unsure how to live out the super-charged energy.
The Canadian election on the 28th April is the day after the Pluto in Aq/Mars in Leo opposition. Canada’s national chart has Mercury placed in the 5th house at 4Leo22. Dramatic communications likely to be in play.
Fascinating as always Marjorie. I am a Mars in Pisces so I recognise the picture of people who quite literally like to dance around confrontation.
Fascinating article, Marjorie.
From my collection of historical charts, I have the Wannsee Conference 20/1/1942 which has an exact square between Mars and Pluto at 4 Taurus and 4 Leo respectively. These planets in Fixed signs tend to be particularly brutal.
The Wannsee Conference also has Uranus 26 Taurus so conjunct Algol.
Thinking of Holst’s Mars, bringer of War at this point. At the same time, where would we be without that Martian energy? The Wannsee Conference Mars square Pluto is thought provoking, and close to this approaching 3 degree opposition. I noticed that it occurs on the day of a Taurus New Moon at 7 Taurus, with Black Moon Lilith at 3 Scorpio, and the transiting Mars/Pluto midpoint 3 Scorpio. Quite a punchy fixed combination, struggling to find an outlet? The New Moon will be one degree off the 8 Taurus Pluto in the US Civil War chart of 1861.
Following today’s shenanigans, things do seem to be building up a head of steam or reaching fever pitch.
Also possibly relevant to the mysterious resonances of history and the cosmos…..A factor in the US Civil War was the contraversial Morrill Tariff of 2nd March, 1861.
“The Morrill Tariff was an increased import tariff in the United States that was adopted on March 2, 1861, during the Presidency of James Buchanan, a Democrat. It was the twelfth of the seventeen planks in the platform of the incoming Republican Party, which had not yet been inaugurated, and the tariff appealed to industrialists and factory workers as a way to foster rapid industrial growth.”
“The tariff inaugurated a period of continuous protectionism in the United States, and that policy remained until the adoption of the Revenue Act of 1913, or Underwood Tariff. The schedule of the Morrill Tariff and both of its successors were retained long after the end of the Civil War.” Wiki
Mars was 8 Taurus, Pluto 7 Taurus on that date in 1861. Mercury in Pisces aligned with Neptune in Pisces, 28-29 degrees.
Thank you, Jane. The Wannsee Conference astrology makes me very nervous, seeing as – as you say – that chart will be triggered by the coming Mars/Pluto opposition. And yes, BML will be in the early degrees of Scorpio too.
I have Mars sextile Pluto with Mars in Scorpio. As Marjorie says, I am quite calm and come into my own during a crisis, but spend non-crisis times worrying myself stupid about trivial stuff.
Migrating the site to a new server so there may be a few delays. Hopefully all sorted by tomorrow.
Marjorie, did you do a chart for the move to the new server so that Mercury was moving direct for the move?
I have Mars and Pluto conjunct in Leo with a late Taurus sun trining a Cap Moon which is opposite Saturn in Cancer. Find it not so difficult when fighting for someone else who has suffered a wrong, as I never give in, but not so when this is for myself.
Really fascinating article , thank you astrologer