Astrology of Today’s News

And the world holds its breath.  Hezbollah is decapitated of its leadership, Hamas effectively weakened if not destroyed. Will Iran retaliate as its proxies are knocked off the chessboard, though it has shown no sign of wanting a direct confrontation?

 From an Israeli point of view neutralizing Hamas and Hezbollah who were attacking across their borders makes survival sense. What doesn’t is the lack of an end game which has to be political and has to include Palestinian statehood. With Gaza effectively destroyed and settlers forcibly taking over land in the West Bank illegally without sanction from the Netanyahu government, there seems precious little sign of movement on that front.

 This latest move is an “emphatic slap in the face for the Biden administration, which believed it had an assurance from Netanyahu that he backed the temporary truce.”

 A brief run over the Hezbollah chart (covered in past posts), 16 February 1985 with a 27 degree Aquarius Sun exactly square Saturn it is suffering a major jolt exactly now from tr Uranus in hard aspect. But it has a confident, determined Pluto square Jupiter – catching an enthusiasm-denting tr Saturn square the Solar Arc Pluto now, but revving up energy from February 2025 onwards as tr Pluto is conjunct the Jupiter through till late 2026 and beyond. It may be down but may not be out altogether in coming years.

 Hassan Nasrullah, 31 August 1960, (wiki) a Sun Pluto Mercury in Virgo had his Solar Arc Mars conjunct his Uranus approaching which is accident/disaster prone; with an undermining tr Neptune opposition his focal point Venus exactly now. He has a couple of Jupiterian midpoints in action now which may point to a martyr’s death – not that it would have been predicted but it makes sense. Had he survived 2025 would have been very high risk.  

Benjamin Netanyahu’s personal chart has an over-excitable, over-reactive tr Uranus square his Mars in Leo from today till late October and again in spring 2025 alongside a panicky-failure tr Neptune opposition his Sun/Mars and Mercury/Saturn midpoints from this October 10^th to early February – so his triumphalist mood won’t last. This December looks high-risk and nerve-stretched for him.

  There are various Iran charts and both the Islamic Republic April 1979 and 1906 charts in relation to Israel show continued upheavals and ructions throughout 2025 and beyond.

 Israel is of course due for the final transiting Uranus conjunction to its 8^th house Taurus Sun late this December to mid March 2025 which will bring another almighty jolt with an insecure, jarring tr Uranus square their Mars from June 2025 into 2026. Followed by grinding Pluto transits opposing its 10^th house Sun and into the next decade Saturn and Pluto. The chances of relaxing back into peace and security may be further away than ever.

 The Israel/USA relationship chart is labouring this year and early next with tr Saturn square the composite Sun Uranus – distanced with tensions erupting. But it is tr Neptune Saturn moving into Aries which will cause the most notable erosion as it opposes the over-hopeful composite Jupiter Neptune and proceeds to square the composite Mercury, Venus in the two years after.

 “The end is in the beginning and yet you go on.” Samuel Beckett, Endgame.

“Use your head, can’t you, use your head, you’re on earth, there’s no cure for that!” Samuel Beckett, Endgame

“I love order. It’s my dream. A world where all would be silent and still, and each thing in its last place, under the last dust.”  Samuel Beckett, Endgame.

“All life long, the same questions, the same answers.” Samuel Beckett, Endgame

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Maggie Smith has died, the actress who more than any epitomized British acting at its best across seven decades on stage, on screen in films and on television.  She was born 28 December 1934 and ‘made her acting debut in 1952 and was still working six decades later having moved from aspiring star to national treasure.’

  She was modest about her achievements, stating simply that “One went to school, one wanted to act, one started to act, and one’s still acting.” But had a reputation for being supercilious and spiky which she played to perfection as the Dowager Countess in Downtown Abbey.

  International fame came early with The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and she revelled in moving seemingly effortlessly from Shakespeare on stage to Harry Potter latterly, collecting numerous awards as she went.

  She had a creative and ambitious Capricorn Sun Mercury in a go-ahead square to Mars in Libra. Her Venus in Capricorn was trine Neptune and sextile Jupiter in Scorpio, giving her charm, luck, optimism. Her Pluto in Cancer was in a rebellious square to Uranus and inconjunct Saturn putting steel in her spine. 

  I must look out a piece from some years before about great stars dying as Neptune exits a sign.

Found it – from 2011.  

Neptune the planet of spirituality and creativity is about to leave Aquarius where it has been since the late 1990s and move into Pisces from April this year.

  What someone brought to my attention recently was that as Neptune changes sign (every 15 years or so) there is an event (or events) of great poignancy as an iconic female figure dies, some of them going suddenly – Princess Diana, Grace Kelly, Nathalie Wood, Sharon Tate, Judy Garland in previous transitional times of Neptune leaving a sign.

  Looking back the list is quite remarkable with women who changed the world dying during this period as well as the writers and great movie stars.

1901: Neptune leaving Gemini – Queen Victoria dies.

1915: Neptune leaving Cancer – Mary Baker Eddy and Emily Davidson (suffragette who suicided by horse at the Derby). Florence Nightingale also died with Neptune in late Cancer (1911)

1929: Neptune leaving Leo – Emmeline Pankhurst (the great suffragette), Ellen Terry, Isadora Duncan.

1943 – Neptune leaving Virgo – aviator Amy Johnson, writer Beatrix Potter.

1957 – Neptune leaving Libra – Laura Wilder (Little House on the Prairie), scientist Irene Curie

1968/69 – Neptune leaving Scorpio – Helen Keller, Enid Blyton, Dorothy Parker, Vivien Leigh, Judy Garland, Little Mo, Sonja Henie, Gypsy Rose Lee, Sharon Tate.

1983 – Neptune leaving Sagittarius – Nathalie Wood, Anita Loos (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), Anna Freud, Ingrid Bergman, Grace Kelly, Gloria Swanson, Ethel Merman, Lillian Hellman, Indira Gandhi.

1998 – Neptune leaving Capricorn – Princess Diana, Mother Theresa, Ella Fitzgerald, Ginger Rogers, Lana Turner, Evelyn Laye, Dorothy Lamour, Claudette Colbert, Margeurite Duras, Patricia Highsmith, Mary Leakey.

2011 Neptune out of Aquarius into Pisces 2011/12.

Liz Taylor – March 2011

Amy Winehouse – July 2011

Jane Russell – Feb 2011

Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston Feb 2012

Esther Williams 2013

Since Sun Pluto in Virgo appear to be newsworthy with Eric Adams and Keir Starmer catching the headlines, a quick run-down of other notables. 

Hassan Nasrullah, 31 August 1960, leader of Hezbollah.

Bashar Assad, 11 September 1965, Syrian dictator.

Geert Wilders, 6 September 1963, Dutch neo-fascist politician.

Chris Christie, Republican politician, 6 September 1962. 

Anthony Weiner, 4 September 1964, Democratic politician and convicted sex offender.

Lennox Lewis, boxer, 2 September 1965. 

Charlie Sheen, 3 September 1965, talented but troubled actor. 

Keanu Reeves, 2 September 1962.

Hugh Grant, 9 September 1960

Jack Ma, Chinese entrepreneur.

Keith Raniere, born August 26, 1960, cult leader convicted of human trafficking, sex offenses and fraud, co-founder of NXIVM

  There will be shoals of perfectly nice, ordinary Sun Pluto in Virgos but the above list did surprise me.  

An after thought – since Virgo is the goddess of the harvest, associated with Demeter who waged a vicious battle with Pluto over her daughter, there is a deep-seated conflict between the two energies. Above and below. Feminine v masculine priorities. Worth pondering.

The charismatic New York mayor Eric Adams is facing a federal indictment on bribery and fraud charges bribery and soliciting illegal campaign contributions from Turkish businessmen. In typically ebullient form he has been comparing himself to Job, the biblical figure who must endure various plagues. And relates a tale from his rough childhood where his mother tells him ‘You are going to find yourself in dark places. It’s not a burial, it’s a planting’.

  Full marks for brass neck, zero for competence and integrity. The Washington Post remarks: “The scandal is that, in a city of 8.3 million people, this clown was somehow the best we had to offer.”

 Eric Adams, 1 September 1960, New York, grew up in a rat infested tenement with a single mother, joined a gang then transferred to the police and after rising up the ranks became a politician with a pledge to bring down crime. He is a Sun conjunct Pluto, Mercury in Virgo sextile Neptune and trine Saturn in Capricorn – determined, controlling, used to tough conditions; with Mars in chatty Gemini in an overly confident, can-be-opportunistic opposition to Jupiter square an indulgent Venus in Virgo.

  He took over as Mayor on 1 January 2022 – and if we assume at midnight then the approaching Libra Solar Eclipse is conjunct the Ascendant for an image crisis and the Solar Arc Venus has moved to close the conjunction to Pluto to exact which has overtones of indulgence and financial manipulation.

The New York chart, 1 January 1898,  if a 12 am start also has a Libra Ascendant catching the Solar Eclipse. Notably in addition it has tr Neptune square the Mars Venus in Sagittarius through this year up to early this month, and again on and off through 2025 till January 2026. This will bring disappointment, a sense of failure, a definite enthusiasm-dent. 2025 sees tr Saturn square the NY Neptune and then Mars Venus, again on and off till early 2026 which will bring uncertainty and aggravation.  Plus tr Uranus will be opposing the NY Uranus from mid 2025 – for an important staging post on the city’s path. Stop for a rethink.

  Adams’ relationship chart with New York is locked together and a mix of great affection with overtones of less desirable traits of power and control. There is a composite friendly and indulgent Sun, Venus, Jupiter conjunction; with Jupiter North Node trine Pluto trine Mars. And a yod of Pluto sextile South Node in Taurus inconjunct Saturn – such a yod demands self-discipline and sticking-to-the-rules to work well.  Otherwise it becomes self-defeating. The composite unaspected Uranus will be triggered by the Solar Eclipse in conjunction – liberation and disruption – as they presumably part ways.

 Adams’ personal chart is showing a massive shock now with his Solar Arc Mars conjunct his Uranus; disappointment and loss from tr Neptune opposition his Venus; and tr Saturn square his Mars, Jupiter, Venus T Square now till early 2026. With panic and uncertainty in 2026 from SA Neptune conjunct his Saturn.  

James Middleton’s book about Ella, his cocker spaniel, who brought him back from the brink of suicidal thoughts in 2017 is, according to reviews, a sweet book about his mental health problems – clinical depression, ADD and dyslexia – and how his pets and family were his lifeline.

 Born 15 April 1987, no birth time, London, he is a Sun Aries trine Saturn Uranus in Sagittarius with two yods – Jupiter North Node in Aries sextile Mars inconjunct Pluto; and Pluto (Moon) in Scorpio sextile Neptune inconjunct Mars in Gemini.  A Pluto apex on a yod will give him extreme reactions especially to his sense of being out of step with those around. Ultimately it can give him a capacity to lead the way with new concepts. A Mars apex can start out as hyper-active and ultimately if well-handled can lead to a hard-working, enterprising lifestyle.

  The Middletons are a tight family which has given Prince William a stability away from the challenges of being a Royal. All three women are fairly tough-minded, resilient and stubborn with marked Saturn Pluto in their charts. Princess Catherine has her Saturn Pluto square her Sun and Moon. Pippa has her Saturn Pluto sextile Moon Venus in Leo; and mother Carole, 31 January 1955, has her Mercury opposition Pluto square Saturn in Scorpio. Father Michael is  cut from a different cloth with a restless and inventive Sun Uranus in Cancer with a yod of Sun Uranus sextile Saturn inconjunct Jupiter – a tendency to be overly confident/enthusiastic but can affect society in positive ways if well handled.

 James is now married to a French financial technology professional with one son Inigo, born just months after dog Ella’s death last year.

Carole has her Mars at 11 Aries in line for the October and next March eclipse as does Princess Catherine with her Mars in Libra – so both will be revved up and argumentative.

Jared Kushner is under scrutiny since his $3bn private equity fund, mainly engorged by the Saudi government’s public investment fund plus monies from the sovereign wealth funds of Qatar, the UAE and Terry Gou, the Foxconn Taiwanese billionaire appears not to be returning any profits to investors. The findings from the Senate finance committee has fuelled suspicions that the Miami-based company, Affinity Partners, may be a foreign influence-buying operation established in anticipation of the former president returning to the White House. It is not only Democrats who have questioned Affinity’s arrangements. James Comer, the Republican chair of the House oversight committee, told CNN last year that Kushner “crossed the line of ethics” regarding Saudi funding for the company.

 Kushner, 10 January 1981 New York, is an ambitious Sun Capricorn square Pluto; with Jupiter Saturn in Libra catching the upcoming Libra Solar Eclipse. Saturn conjunct an eclipse always carries a hint of a reckoning – being forced to take responsibility for past actions. Jupiter as ever flying too high may be part of it.

  He’s in for a Neptunian slump next year with his Solar Arc Mars square his Neptune and his Solar Arc Neptune conjunct his Mars – which usually points to failed plans and panic.

  His relationship with his father-in-law was always tied together in a fated way with a yod of Mercury inconjunct Pluto sextile Mars Neptune. The composite Venus is catching the Libra Solar Eclipse for an emotional upset around now with more disruptions and tensions from mid 2025 onward with tr Uranus square the composite Saturn.

 Kushner’s relationship with Mohammed bin Salman is under heavy pressure exactly now and throughout 2025. 

 MBS’s relationship with Trump himself is rattled, aggravated and on edge now until late December with particular agitation showing through this November – with gloom across the New Year and January.  

 The impression in recent times has been that the Kushners were distancing themselves from Trump – and Ivanka’s relationship with her father, fraught at the best of times, looks to be exploding from mid 2025 onwards. Their composite Sun and Mars will get rattled up by tr Uranus in square and into the following years tr Uranus will square the Saturn and Uranus.

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story has shot to the top of Netflix’s streaming chart despite (or maybe cause of) criticism that it is “in the worst possible taste.” Other reviews describe it as a “messy, salacious slog”; and “a retelling of unspeakable abuses and gruesome crimes.”

  Erik and Lyle Mendendez were found guilty of shooting their father on 20 August 1989 in Beverly Hills. Initially they said they came home to find their parents dead, but later claimed  the murders were in self defence after years of alleged physical, emotional and sexual abuse. After a deadlocked first trial, they were both found guilty  after the judge excluded evidence of their abuse and the prosecution argued they wanted to kill their parents to inherit their money. They were both given life without parole.

 Lyle, 10 January 1968 12.10 pm New York, has his Capricorn Sun and Mercury sitting on his Midheaven trine a 5th house Pluto Uranus in Virgo, sextile a 7^th house Neptune. His Taurus Moon opposes his Neptune; and his 8th house intense Venus squares onto a Mars opposition Jupiter. He looks ambitious and attention-seeking.

 Erik, 27 November 1970 11.23 pm Livington, New Jersey,  has a 4^th house Sun Neptune conjunction in Sagittarius with Mars and Uranus in his financial 2^nd house – less robust but keen on money.

  Their father Jose, 6 May 1944, Havana Cuba, was a confident and stubborn Sun Taurus square Jupiter with an influential/controlling Uranus trine Neptune sextile Pluto North Node in Leo.

 None of the charts themselves looks particularly brutal or abusive. Though the relationship charts do depict a good deal of anger and what could be cruelty. Jose with Lyle has a composite Mars Saturn square Uranus; and Jose with Erik has an even worse composite Mars Pluto square Saturn.  So both boys would harbour deep resentment towards their father.

 What was always odd was that the relationship chart between the two brothers is, if anything, more stressed than between each of them and their father. They have a composite Sun Mars conjunction square Pluto; with a yod of Pluto sextile Neptune Venus inconjunct Saturn. I can’t even begin to decipher the twisted psychology that lies behind all of that. Sun Mars plus Pluto = angry, competitive, locked in a do-or-die struggle for power. A delusional yod born out of extreme frustration at being chained together in a situation of hardship and deprivation. With another yod of composite Moon sextile Saturn inconjunct Pluto. The power play within the dyad must have been intense – with Lyle undoubtedly having the upper hand.

 The shootings took place on 20 August 1989 when the triple conjunction of Uranus, Neptune, Saturn in Capricorn was in place.

Sudan has become the forgotten war and famine as top diplomats have used up their bandwidth focusing on Gaza and Ukraine. The latest outbreak of violence in Sudan in 2023 has displaced 10 million people, some fleeing abroad, and left as many as 25 million, half the population, facing acute hunger. Recent severe flooding has added to the agony.

  A civil war broke out in April 2023 between the national army and a renegade paramilitary force (RSF), which evolved from the Janjaweed militias with neither side able to achieve a decisive victory anytime soon. There are ethnic divisions with the renegade group adhering to a racist, Arab-supremacist ideology, and targeting African minorities for extermination. War crimes are being committed on a large-scale by both sides.

 There are allegations that the RSF is being armed by the United Arab Emirates which is denied.

Add On: Roger Boyes in The Times: “It’s not just corpses piling up because of the fighting (150,000 at last count) but the famine (2.5 million predicted to die of starvation by year-end, ten million by this time next year), the cholera and the mass displacement of people. Some ten million have fled across Sudan’s increasingly unstable borders and many have their eye on Europe. Sixty per cent of people in Calais camps waiting to cross the Channel are from Sudan. They are the lucky ones. Sudan, meanwhile, is stuck in a Hobbesian nightmare. It is becoming a bloodbath that is rippling everywhere, and with no one credible enough to shout: Stop!”

   And see below from a previous post April 17 2023, there also seems to be Saudi and Russian/Wagner Group support for the RSF.

 Sudan has had a muddled history in the 20^th Century starting effectively as British Crown Colony after an Anglo-Egyptian agreement in 1899 and gaining independence on 1 January 1956. What followed were political disruptions, coups, a civil war and the eventual secession of South Sudan on 9 July 2011.

 The 1956 chart has a stark Mars Saturn in Scorpio square Pluto in Leo and Jupiter in early Virgo which was guaranteed to be a recipe for rolling crises and jeopardy in years to come. Ther was also a Venus opposition Uranus square Neptune, hinting at a capacity for fanatical beliefs. When the most recent upsurge of violence started in April 2023 tr Pluto was starting to move round the Neptune, Uranus, Venus T square – and will continue on for some years. The Solar Arc Mars was also opposition the Uranus.  Solar Arc Neptune is conjunct the Capricorn Sun exactly now for a rapidly deteriorating situation. With the Uranus heading to oppose the Saturn and square the Pluto from mid 2025 onwards into 2026. Nothing cheerful ahead.

Previous post: April 17 2023.

A local violent squabble in Sudan, Africa’s third-largest country, between the president and his vice-president, leaders of the transitional government after a 2019 coup that ousted long-term dictator Omar al-Bashir, could have wider ramifications. Both Egypt and Saudi Araba have a stake in the game, as well as the Russians through Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner Group.

 Inside Sudan it pits the armed forces against a paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) originally known as the infamous Janjaweed for its atrocities and genocide in Darfur, resulting in 400,000 deaths. Although Saudi Arabia is calling for peace it has heavily supported the RSF financially in recent years and hired RSF troops to fight against Houthi rebels in Yemen’s civil war. The outcome may eventually depend on which of the rival generals can secure financial backing from either Cairo or Riyadh.

  The RSF has also been linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner Group, brought into Sudan by Bashir to help shore up his faltering regime in 2017. Following a meeting with Putin Bashir promised to make the country Russia’s “key to Africa”. Ever since, Wagner has supplied large quantities of weapons and equipment and it continues to operate a gold mining company, reportedly smuggling vast quantities of gold out of the country, amongst other things helping to fuel the war in Ukraine.

  Gulf states are concerned about instability on the Red Sea — a key trade route — and fear the rise of Islamists in the region as does Egypt who supports the non-RSF side. The concern is that it could spiral out of control at which point Egypt might assert itself and Ethiopia.  One commentator said: “If it is possible, my wish is for the two military sides to be defeated. Sudan would be much better without either of them.”

Chad, Eritrea and South Sudan could face a deluge of refugees, adding to their own internal struggles. A power vacuum could enable extremist groups across the region to take advantage of what is happening, as Al Quaeda did in the early 1990s, which would obviously undermine British and American security.

  Richard Kemp in the Telegraph suggests: “Sudan may be just the first African nation to implode under Russian influence. In the Central African Republic, Mozambique, Libya and Mali, Russian mercenaries have worked to reinforce existing conflicts, prop up despotic regimes, suppress efforts towards democracy, loot natural resources, secure strategic advantage for Moscow and drive out Western influence. The forces unleashed by their efforts will not be easily contained.”

   Sudan, 1 January 1956, does have the devastating and confused tr Pluto square Neptune exactly now and throughout 2024, with tr Pluto moving on in 2024/25 to upend the Uranus as well. Plus an explosive tr Uranus opposition Mars from this June, running on in a highly disruptive opposition to the Saturn and square Pluto in 2025/26.  There’s nothing to suggest a peaceful truce anytime soon.

  18 degrees fixed at the moment for these few significant days until May 11^th are highlighted in:

Egyptian President Al-Sisi’s relationship chart with Bin Salman (MBS)of Saudi with tr Uranus in a high-tension, eruptive opposition to the Saturn, moving into oppose the Mars in June onwards. Also sending a high-voltage jolt through Al Sisi’s Presidency chart, 8 June 2014, as tr Uranus opposes the Saturn. In his own chart as well, 19 November 1954, tr Uranus is heading to square the Mars in Aquarius  from early May onwards which could light a fuse, certainly bad tempered, insecure leading to rash decisions.

  MBS, 31 August 1985, could also be tempted into rash over-reactions come this August with tr Uranus opposition his Saturn and through 2024 squaring his Mars.

  The Egypt/USA chart looks rattled with tr Uranus conjunct the composite Sun at 18 Taurus.

 Yevgeny Prigozhin, 1 June 1961, has a volatile, explosive Mars Uranus in Leo of which the midpoint is catching the 18 degree tr Uranus square exactly now, so he will be on red alert.

 This decade is turning out to be an absolute horror.

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 of this high-stress opposition till after the USA Inauguration in late January. Mars goes direct late February and picks up the Pluto opposition again mid April to mid May. Not only the USA but everywhere will be under strain.

 Mars opposition Pluto tends to feel blocked, frustrating, trapped, powerless and infuriated. On occasion it brings high-risk situations and/or 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.

  From a previous post on the nature of Mars.

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. Its plus point is utter-determination. 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.  

  Discussing sex nowadays is a minefield. But I recollect years back reading a study by zoologist Konrad Lorenz about ducks and he found the ones lacking aggression/assertion didn’t/couldn’t mate. Aggression gave them propulsion but had to be diverted at the final moment to allow coupling to take place. Which suggests the Mars drive is essential for reproduction but has to be under control. Not that humans are like ducks or other animals – no rape in the animal kingdom. Female lions repel over arduous approaches with a snarl if they are not in the mood; and zebras with a well-aimed kick. The alpha males in rut have Mars in overdrive. But the ladies are in charge.   Not sure where humans went wrong as they mutated away from chimps.