I started writing about Mars in synastry here. I told myself I wouldn’t do what’s been done in other places. Descriptions of Mars and Venus were at the top of my list. However, I’ve found interesting things in my synastry consultations. There is confusion about how both Venus and Mars operate. Particularly, people are confused about their different functions for each sex. We all have Venus and we all have Mars. On one level, they operate the same way. But there are subtle differences. These influence each sex uniquely.
Mars: The Hypersensitive Warrior
Mars is notoriously hypersensitive. No matter what sign or aspects it has, it feels everything. Alas, this doesn’t help relationships much. Mars is not sensitive about others. In fact, it can be extremely insensitive. But Mars is always intensely sensitive to ITSELF. It’s the Aries factor. Aries can be rude, overbearing, or arrogant to others. But when it comes to itself, it’s as hypersensitive as the most acute Pisces. When you get an Aries/Pisces combo, you often find the world’s most hypersensitive bulldozer. This is likely because, like a newborn baby, Aries has no defenses. It’s just out there on its own, in the line of fire. It is brave, but it knows it’s vulnerable. This is also at the root of Aries’ legendary love of innocent and vulnerable things. This includes children, kittens, and the needy.
Understanding Mars in the Houses
Mars shows us what we are stimulated by. The houses show the area of life where we can get in touch with our basic energy. The signs show us the flavors of our own expression and what we find exciting. When we tap into it, we tap into our own life force. On an angle, Mars is especially forceful, even when retrograde. Mars conjunct the Ascendant is potent.
Expressing the evolving Self is the goal. Mars in synastry with the Descendant is turned on by partnership. There may be a keen desire to discover and express the shadow side. Then Mars conjunct the IC is the explorer of inner landscapes. It’s turned on by issues of home and family. Mars on the MC is a natural hunter. It often finds expression in career and social issues. Unless there is a heavy water house influence, it will want to be seen to achieve.
Conflict and Power
These can also be our greatest areas of conflict. The Scorpio expression of Mars is the testing side. This comes out especially strong when Pluto is attached to Mars. Mars in synastry is where we look for a fight. It’s how we challenge ourselves and others. It pushes our knowledge of how and why we conquer. Mars aggression is not for its own sake. It is rooted in the necessity to assess and test strength and power. This is why our sexual encounters can become war games. Wherever Mars in synastry is involved, we must remain conscious of our use of our own power. Mars is how we penetrate in all kinds of ways, and we have to be certain that the intrusion is welcome.
Mars and Venus in Combination
We can’t have true inspiration without Mars. When we are truly inspired, we are set in motion. When Mars’s spiritual side is activated, it becomes a vehicle for higher powers. It allows us to use those higher powers in daily activities. We often forget that Mars was a god and has a role in the divine comedy of life. Sexually, Mars ranges from basic physical satisfaction to sacred union. In a man’s chart, Mars will describe how he gets what he wants.
If his Mars is in Aries, he will go about it directly. If it’s involved with Neptune, he may be less direct. But he will be direct eventually. If Mars is in Pisces, he may meditate or pray. He may hope things manifest. Or he may be utterly confused about how to get anything. It will, to some extent, describe his sexual style.
But does it describe what he desires or how he likes to be touched? No, that realm belongs to Venus. If his Mars is in Aries and his Venus is in Taurus, he will go after what he wants directly. But once he gets into bed, he may be surprisingly earthy and sensual. He may like being the submissive partner. Once we get what we want through Mars, the way we enjoy it may be utterly Venusian. This depends on how strong the relative planets are. It also depends on how in touch we are with both our masculine and feminine sides.
People with Venus and Mars in incompatible elements have a more complex expression of their sexuality. In this new world, Venus and Mars have to be considered in combination, sexually. Mars is about our sexual aggression, how we offer and display. Venus is about how we wish to receive love, no matter the sex.
It used to be thought that Venus is how women display their sexuality and Mars how men display theirs. I don’t believe that applies anymore. The whole thing is much more complicated. A woman with Venus in Cancer will woo by nurturing. A man with Venus in Cancer will want to be nurtured. Mars/Mars in the same or compatible signs will tell us that our style of loving is compatible.
But Venus will tell us whether that is appreciated or not. It’s perfectly plausible that we have one way of expressing our love/sexuality, but respond to something else when another person expresses love to us. In short, Venus is how both sexes wish to receive love, and Mars is how we express sexual energy.
The man above with the Taurus Venus will value sharing meals with the person he loves. He will strive to give her security. If his partner has Venus in Aquarius or Gemini, she may be turned on by the impulsive excitement of his Aries/Mars. But she may not be able to feel his Venusian expressions of togetherness and commitment.
It used to be that males identified with their Mars more. I believe this is still true of younger men. I believe this is still true of younger men. However, Mars will always be Mars. A stimulation or a challenge will always first arouse that energy in both sexes.
The masculine planets operate fairly unconsciously in people, regardless of sex. A stimulation or challenge awakens those energies, and so do fear and anger. The feminine planets, Moon and Venus, are about our emotions and desires. As we become more solar, our awareness of our actions and their effects may change.
The Foundations Book: An Approach to Chart Synthesis by Dawn Bodrogi-Astrology
The post Synastry Studies: More Sex–A closer look at Mars appeared first on The Inner Wheel.