Mars, in mythology the god of war, fiery, competitive, pro-active, high vitality and aggressive, in aspect to slow-moving, cold-hearted, judgmental, stickler-for-rules Saturn is an awkward combination. Whether in natal charts, synastry, composites or in outer events it tends to accompany troubling experiences.
Mars says ‘I want’ ‘I am’ ‘I intend to do’ and dashes impulsively and often courageously ahead without thought of the consequences. Running into Saturn’s delays, setbacks, over abundance of caution and negativity, it results in blocked action.
In a natal chart, hard Mars Saturn aspects lead to frustration and futility in childhood at not being able to express self freely in direct action and in opinions. Usually the parent is the Saturnine force, ready with criticism, put downs, cutting remarks. Unfairness looms large and sometimes outright cruelty.
Destructive is a word often used about the combination, as is harshness, bitterness, self-willed obstinacy, violence. Scottish singer Lulu, with a 4th house Mars Moon square Saturn has revealed that a childhood, living with her parents’ violent relationship caused her to suffer. “I never slept properly. I was afraid my parents would accidentally kill each other. So that fear has ruled my whole life.“ Her Mars was also trine Pluto so she had an added dose of the damaging energy.
Ill treatment does crop up in charts of Mars Saturn individuals who have lived through difficult circumstances either in childhood or later. Winne Mandela, who was brutalised by South African authorities during her long fight against apartheid. Ahed Tamini, the Palestinian activist who has been thrown into Israeli prisons on several occasions. Brigitte Bardot, whose father beat her as a child. Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani activist for girls’ education who was shot by the Taliban. All Mars Saturn types.
Mars Saturn also crops up in illegal assassinations and more recently terrorist attacks. The Manchester bombing of 2017 and the London Bridge bombing both occurred with a magnified Saturn opposition Mars in place. Other instances were Kim Kardashian’s burglary in Paris, the 2012 Italy earthquake.
Since Saturn, rules the body’s skeleton, there are connections to damaging accidents – Chris Froome, the Tour de France cyclist, crashed badly under Mars Saturn and actor Jeremy Renner was run over by a snow plough with a Mars opposition Saturn in place breaking innumerable bones.
There are, of course, ways of using any astrological aspect constructively. The military is one outlet for Mars Saturn. Mars = aggression, killing; and Saturn = disciplined, controlled, state-sanctioned. Though military types do not always make empathetic parents.
Mars Saturn tends unsurprisingly to give rise to problems with impatience and in adult years a tendency for anger to be switched off and then switched on. Periods of teeth-gritting submission to restrictive circumstances or people after a while result in irritation spilling out sometimes with force. Too little and then too much as the lid blows.
The other effect can be on sexuality since Mars’ unrestrained testosterone does not appreciate being corralled by moralistic Saturn – or sometimes worse, by the goat-god Saturn goading Mars into perverse behaviours. Mars Saturn can lead to masochistic/sadistic behaviour. The Marquis de Sade had a Mars square Saturn. Mel Gibson whose Passion of Christ movie evidently had horror movie quantities of blood and gore has a Mars Saturn in Scorpio admittedly square Pluto which doubles up on the obsession with cruelty.
Net porn also seems infested by Mars Saturn – see in Search.
Where Mars Saturn comes into its own in a positive way is its ability (honed in a difficult childhood) to push on regardless to reach its goals. It bestows incredible self discipline. All of the below had striking Mars Saturn aspects. Donald Henderson changed the world by ‘doing the impossible’ and eradicating smallpox. Henry Worsley in 2016 died just 30 miles short of his goal of a solo, unassisted crossing of the Antarctic. He covered 913 miles in 69 days, hauling a 148 kilo sledge and raised over £100,000 for injured soldiers. Ranulph Fiennes, the trans globe explorer, who holds endurance records for walking to the North and South Pole, and crossing Antarctica. Ralph Bangold, who pioneered desert exploration and walked across the Libyan desert in the 1930s.
There is a never-say-die side to Mars Saturn which can lead to extraordinary achievements against the odds.
While all of the above various manifestations of Mars Saturn occur, they won’t necessarily all affect every individual who has Mars Saturn in their chart. Recent examples of Dolly Parton as well as architects Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid indicate they can result in a long productive life.
ADD ON: Daniel Craig has a Mars Saturn conjunction in Aries giving him the required level of coiled-spring violence to play James Bond. His father was in the navy – often individuals with fathers in the armed forces have Mars Saturn.
Greg Bovino, former US Border Patrol, commander of operations for Trump’s ICE operations, now removed, has a Mars Saturn conjunct in Taurus.
Katie Price, a UK former topless model and TV celebrity, addicted to cosmetic surgery with a car-crash personal life has Mars Saturn conjunct in Leo and Mars sextile Pluto and square Uranus. She has admitted to being sexually abused as a child and raped in adult life.
I have a grand earth trine pluto saturn and mars – hard childhood with a very complicated father, my jaw is literally moving out of place with my clenched jaw. I am now an empty nester trying to find peace and balance it with a grand fire trine – thanks to Marjorie for translating it for me.
Add Daniel Craig to the productive list. He has an Aries Mars-Saturn conjunction with his Moon also in Aries. It will be interesting to watch for any Saturn Return effects this year.
An aside: I looked at his chart last week after watching the Wake Up Dead Man movie. Thought it was fun and entertaining, especially Craig’s character and southern drawl.
So true, thank you Marjorie!
I have a Mars-Saturn square, (a Saturn in its sign) and your analysis regarding poor treatment in childhood, “too little [anger] and then too much as the lid blows”, and incredible self discipline are all spot on! In my case the Saturnine parent is my mother (on top of which her Pluto-Moon is also in hard aspects to both Mars and Saturn) – it took me an entire life to understand her negative role.
Moreover, as a woman, and with Mars in the 7th, Rob Hand, whom I’d consulted a few years back, said that the effect of a potentially positive aspect such as progressed Venus conjoining natal Mars for a significant relationship would be delayed by natal Saturn.
With age, I have, however, finally improved my reaction so that I no longer put up with unacceptable situations, without first having to reach the point of no return, and doing so calmly.
I think the main help is my Jupiter (conjunct Saturn), but it also means that Saturn weakens my Jupiter.
I also suspect that my hard Mars-Saturn aspect is why I cannot maneuver a vehicle – unable to properly control my reflexes, or judge speed – hence I do not drive (quite a limitation in the US, and for someone who loves to travel/explore). Speaking of accidents, my car went off the road as a result of my poor reflex, but I miraculously (Jupiter?) regained control and avoided what would have been a fatal accident.
I got some similar aspects here but didn’t found driving an issue, mauber because of my Mercury conjunct with Jupiter.
Saturn does delay but it tests and if one stays ethical and honest, its rewards r eternal. Relationships before saturn 1st return usually don’t last but after it,it’s permanent people.
Yes, we all love Jupiter,who doesn’t ones saviour but it has some excessiveness too which can be detrimental as jupiter ones rely on luck which is seasonal..so end up with no achievements.
I don’t agree to weakening theories since I have observed planets have a sequence; highest degree would go 1st in life to train then others follow so if it’s saturn as being in size too then malefic or tough tests then after 1st return, comes others in near houses n degrees. Also,in Indian astrology, we have remedies to strengthen weak or in shadow planets by acting on their strengths daily.
Saturn demands truth and Mars, active life.
‘….. I have observed planets have a sequence; highest degree would go 1st in life to train then others follow ….’
Hi Rachana, So just to clarify if my highest degree for the planets is 18 and I have 3 planets at 18 degrees then they would all factor to train? Does the ASC/DSC count in this, which I have at 25 degrees and if yes so they go first?
What do you say about the planets at the highest point of the chart overlooking the others? Some thinking is that they are dominant, i.e. Midhaven and thereabouts.
Thanks much
So sorry… correction my highest degree is Venus at 21 but wondering if those three 18 degree planets don’t highjack at 21 degree?
Mars Pluto Uranus conjunction opposite Saturn Chiron conjunction square nodes – Saturn apex of yod.
Let’s quit moaning and blaming. We are generational beings – god knows what our ancestors endured. We have the torch to carry for such a short time – and can hopefully improve and grow and add to the story. With gratitude and love.
I have Mars square Saturn and I view it as a positive aspect. It has helped me dig in and achieve far more than anyone thought I would. It gives my Venus ascendant a bit of grit.
Marjorie
Thanks so much!
I have Mars in Gemini square Saturn in Virgo with Chiron in Sagittarius, all within a 2 degree square/opposition in the last degrees of their signs. Not good in regular times, but getting pummeled now with transiting Neptune and a Saturn opposition. It is a horrible aspect to have, absolutely crushing. No relief in sight as Saturn will square my sun and Uranus in April.
Two workaholic examples…..1. Farmer ploughed fields with two horses, had
Mars conj Saturn. 2. Nurse, workaholic, had Mars conj Saturn, in 6th of work.
Frida Khalo, Mexican artist in bus accident….trans Saturn, bones, r6th, injuries,
sextile natal Mars-Uranus, accident, at age 18…on Sepr 17, 1925.
I have a Mars Saturn square in Cardinal signs which over the years I have come to terms with and been grateful for its self-reliant, disciplined streak – and learnt not to fly off the handle (mainly).
One quirky memory stays in mind of doing Moral Philosophy at University and puzzling over the great dichotomy between ‘I want’ and ‘I ought’. And saying to my tutor I really had no conception of what ‘I want’ actually meant – a foreign country. Seems odd looking back and it was not painful to me in intellectual terms then but just unthinkable.
3rd House Saturn opposition (3 degree orb) 9th-house Mars. Gone through life suppressing anger within and learning to get through life with a smile. When I was younger, I wondered if all of life was meant to be about smothering one’s soul and desires. As I have become older, I’ve learnt to be more forgiving of myself, though it is still hard to forgive others. But it has been suggested to me that now I should seriously consider therapy for suppressed anger issues, because some of my medical conditions may be caused by that suppressed anger. Such therapy may take some time. I’ve only got a few decades worth of anger to get out of my system.
A Moon-Pluto (8 degree orb) conjunction in the 4th House opposition Sun-Mercury in the 10th doesn’t help. SA Saturn would have been conjunct the Moon-Pluto conjunction and SA Mars would have been conjunct Sun-Mercury in my teenage years. Hard to separate the effect of the SA conjunction and normal teenage years.
As an aside, 3rd House Saturn could have been considered as having issues with communication. But thankfully I have never had issues with communication itself, either written or verbal.
Conversely, my brother, who has no planets in the 3rd house, was diagnosed early on with ADHD. It was caught in time and our parents were very supportive of him and he is doing very well now. Indeed, he is known for his communications and documentations skills in his job.
All my childhood to youth, “meditate” was rhe only word on loop poured on me by entire family and relatives except by my generational born with Mars-Saturn combo granny ; she was typical virgo moon, workalcoholic so in her presence nobody red to address me with that word as She would scold them,”she needs love, not this.”.
I m not against therapy, i m called to do it and I do but the thing is unless roots r cured,all medicines only frustrate body more and mind is inside body,living on it’s food.
Childhood cannot be corrected except with grandchildren being treated opposite way to ones own childhood.
Unmystic Mom. I have the same aspects. Your post resonates.
I have the opposite – 9th house Saturn (Taurus) meet 3rd House Mars, Venus, Mercury, Neptune (Scorpio). Suppressed anger, gritted teeth and volcano level outbursts are old friends. Therapy has helped understand. A spouse unwilling to take no for an answer means that expressing needs has gotten easier as i have grown older. Vedic Mars mahadasha currently is the activating force currently. Three more years to go.
Mars in Aries 11th House, Opposite Saturn in Scorpio conjunct Pluto in Libra in 5th House. Less harsh than other people. Maybe Pluto and Saturn in Retrograde also played a part. Lack is real growing up, my rose tinted glass refused to acknowledge my mother is cruel but I am seeing patterns of it in this age. There is no sexual violence, no domestic violence. I am fed and clean. But mother’s parental skill will either be admired or considered weird. Who let a kid sleep after 12am? Who let a 4/5 year old learn to take their own medication whether it is 4 hour timing or 6 hour. And I was a chronically sick kid once again due to my mother. Who let a baby breathe in heavy 2nd hand smoke by many people day in day out until diagnosed with asthma and claim it was genetic from the uncle. I will stop for now.
Who let a school going kid to go for her toe surgery all alone, straight from school just with cash in her pocket ?
Then, checking with the doctor on her way back from work as her own 1st born won’t be trusted as if the child would live with painful bleeding toe n waste money on luxuries …m learning to forgive n ignore her since my peace matters more ..they r on exit mode n I don’t want to spoil remaining part of my years on earth…half life gone warring with them…as a movie lyric goes,”v regretted expecting warmth from ice and calm from fire”
I have an eighth house Mars in Aries square a fourth house Saturn in Capricorn, and can vouch for the difficulties associated with this aspect ( not to mention that recent Pluto transit was brutal).
That said, it would be nice to hear more about the upside of Mars Saturn, and examples of charts where it manifested as such.
I have 9 mars aspects in my personal birth chart. Ewŵ!
Born in paternal family with birthcharts having gifted generation and every descendant with mars saturn dominance so pronouncing that it’s almost last name of family…instantly recognisable despite all fake sweetness ,now on exit mode descendants failing used all life.
Maternally too, so add the effect and Pluto in the mix with my own Uranus and North Node and Neptune the shape shifter ..
So, when we say hereditary diseases, v should begin from birthcharts planets affecting approach to life too
Can Mars show our wounds then, as it is known as the God of War?
Certainly, with uranus transit,it leaves accident scars, visible.
Pluto makes its fearsome but then other planets aspects might give individual ability to hide it.
Thanks Marjorie. It’s a question we cannot answer, but I wonder how many ICE employees have negative Mars-Saturn aspects.
Would that show up in a Solar Arc American Chart though? Maybe in aspect to the Moon?