Transcending Astrology

When the coronavirus came into our consciousness, Mars was in Capricorn, working for Saturn. Now that the virus is here, what happens when Mars is in Aries, working for Mars? Let’s discuss.

In late February and nearly all of March 2020, Mars transited Capricorn. That’s pretty uneventful on its own but the red planet was bunched together with three other heavyweights there, creating quite the gravitas and triggering massive global events.

Saturn and Pluto brought us the coronavirus to deal with, coming together in a conjunction at 22 Capricorn. At first, the virus was only in China. Then, Mars and Jupiter (along with the Moon and a prior eclipse) skimmed over Pluto, all in Capricorn, and the virus blistered up all over the world. The entire world went on lockdown as Mars moved into Aquarius, hitting up against Saturn before carrying on forward.

Mars just entered Pisces at the time of writing this, for the record.

Late Capricorn, especially 22 degrees, and the planets involved (Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto) have now become sensitive zones, relating back to the themes we’re dealing with surrounding the virus and its subsequent fallout. In April, when Mercury and the Sun were in Aries, a sign that creates tension with the sign Capricorn, some very important things came to light, all relating back to the virus.

I mean, nearly everything is linked back to the virus because of how encompassing it is. Neptune in Pisces has a lot to do with viruses, too. It’s not just Pluto. Pluto is the death, Saturn is the karma, but Neptune makes sure it’s all nice and spread out – highly contagious.

But, when the other faster-moving planets clap back to the ones in late Capricorn, things happen that are connected to the virus and what has happened because of it. When the Sun and Venus were in Aries, the virus was everywhere. It was all you heard about, talked about, maybe thought about. No one was untouched. The Sun moved into Taurus in late April and people started easing into things, leaving their homes more. People got more comfortable with the situation. Some were even stubbornly denying the virus or dismissing safety protocols completely. The story continued moving forward as time went on, but when Mercury went through late Aries, activating late Capricorn with a square, there were a lot of upsetting developments in America that struck me.

So, whenever faster moving planets hit sensitive areas in the sky that create tension with late Capricorn – namely, through the other 3 cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra) – disturbances occur, whether in mood or otherwise. Because the main theme across the globe is the virus and whatever comes from it, any disturbances to late Capricorn are now related.

Capricorn

One major goal of Capricorn is to create order and systems that flow efficiently. Of course, Cappy has many other goals, but that is definitely one of them and it is largely correlated with Saturn, the ringed planet of order, control, power, and efficiency.

I must emphasize that Saturn & Pluto in Cap did not unleash the virus merely to be cruel or even because we humans deserve this shit. They are showing us where we are weak as a society so that we fix it moving forward. Our foundations were not strong enough. They are showing us where our leaders and our systems have failed and are failing so that we know what we need from these entities from now on. They are shifting our collective focus. Saturn rules time and meeting up with Pluto means the death and rebirth of time. Time is a malleable thing and Saturn/Pluto really slowed the world down.

It is literally to save our species. I mean, do you really think we can survive much longer on our current path? I hope I speak for all Millenials and Gen Z when I say Fuck No.

Enter Mars in Aries

Aries is one of the home signs for Mars (Scorpio being the other, night ruler expression of the energy).

Notorious for being impulsive, Mars in Aries often acts first and asks questions later. Actually, it doesn’t even ask questions later. No questions are asked. Zero. Mars in Aries just acts. Please remember: I’m not saying everyone with Mars in Aries in their natal chart is impulsive and prone to recklessness, because we are our entire charts put together, not just one of our planets. I’m talking about Mars in Aries on its own and that is it.

Aries is the spark of Spirit – the bringer of life energy itself. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac for a reason. It’s the life force that breaks through the void of Pisces. It uses physical force to accomplish this. If you want to read more about my thoughts on Aries as a sign, read this post. Otherwise, just know that the sign is 100% pure life force. Whatever planet is in Aries, there’s so much energy generated that it just needs to move. It needs to be expressed and it will express based on the planet’s significations.

Put Mars in Aries and it’s like a double dose. This combo is about strength, pure physical chutzpah. It’s the archetype of the warrior in battle – not preparing for battle but actually in it. Some real-world significations are weaponry, guns, fighting, violence, courage, battles, conflict, war, explosives, cars, engines, projectiles, missiles. You get the idea. It’s physical and fast, and it’s strong.

Can it be used constructively? Absolutely. Can it go the other way? Yes. Each one of us makes that decision.

About the Cardinal Mode

There are three modes in the zodiac. You’ve probably heard of them: Cardinal, Fixed, & Mutable. Along with the modes, there are four elements: Fire, Earth, Air, Water. No two zodiac signs are of the same element AND the same mode.

Aries is a Cardinal Fire sign. Cardinal is initiatory – it starts things. This is why the Cardinal signs are so explosive and things tend to really happen (manifest) when planets are in them.

For the record, Fixed signs like to keep the status quo and Mutable signs are changeable/flexible.

Four signs encompass each mode but they’re all different elements. For example: Aries, Cancer, Libra & Capricorn are all Cardinal signs (mode), but each one is of a different element. Aries, Cardinal Fire. Cancer, Cardinal Water. Libra, Cardinal Air. Capricorn, Cardinal Earth.

So each sign in a mode has the same process (mode), except different goals/needs/styles (element). All Cardinal signs are initiatory (start things) but they are initiatory to fulfill different needs – and these needs often clash with one another. This is important.

Each sign of the same mode is also connected in the chart – they activate one another, they are linked. As you can see from the photo below, each sign has an opposite and they are the same mode. Draw a line between the opposite, then draw a line crossing that line, and you get a cross. Each sign at the ends of the cross will have the same mode, as long as the cross makes a perfect square (90 degree angles).

So, when signs have the same modes – like Aries & Capricorn – they have the same inclination (to start something) but different endgames. This tends to create tension because they’re going after different things, even though they’re connected and really need to try to work together.

Let me try an example: Imagine Aries is in one room in an office building and Capricorn is in another room. Capricorn wants to go upstairs and Aries wants to go to the elevator. They want different things but they both need to exit their rooms and walk through the same hallway to get where they need to go. Aries is walking down the hallway in one direction, Capricorn is going the other way. The hallways are narrow, so only one can pass at a time. They inevitably bump into each other and a conflict arises.

Mars in Aries vs Jupiter, Saturn & Pluto in Capricorn

So, Capricorn wants to go one way while Aries wants to go another. They have the same mode (Cardinal) so they are carrying the same “weapon,” so to speak, the same initiatory spirit.

Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto in late Capricorn want order and efficiency. Pluto is transforming all things Capricorn, breaking them down to be rebuilt. Saturn in Capricorn is testing every foundation in Capricorn and Jupiter is expanding it all, making the process bigger, more of an issue, and also requiring vision. That alone is rough because it’s a lot of change happening all at once.

Anne Ortelee, one of my favorite astrologers, spoke recently on Astrology Hub that the systems and institutions represented by Capricorn (government, big business) are going through so much change right now that it’s unwise to depend on them. We need to depend on ourselves. We need to lean on our own inner sense of authority (Capricorn). I think this is key advice and it’s also part of what I posted on my Instagram back in January.

But what will Mars in Aries want? How will that fit into the picture?

We already know that Mars in Aries is Mars on blast. It wants a challenge, a competition. It wants literally to do whatever it wants to do. It wants to do its own thing and it’s not going to take no for an answer.

Capricorn, namely Saturn in Capricorn, likes to say no to anything reckless. It represents the same authority that Mars in Aries will not bow to, unless it agrees with it! They can work together. In fact, if they come together for a common cause, they can absolutely accomplish a great deal, but even when they work together, there is bound to be a conflict of some sort because of the natural square (tension) between them.

So, you can see how, as an American, I am a little concerned. My beautiful country has been divided for a very long time. I go into the issues more in other posts but the gap between the haves and the have-nots is unsustainable at best. There is so much inequality here. Not enough people know how to play the game and most of us start with major handicaps. People around the world think we have so much money but it’s just not true. We have a lot of credit and debt.

Add to the story that Mars in Aries on its own has to do with conflict, weapons, fighting, etc. Mars in Aries will start up the engines to break new ground and will ultimately have to cross paths with the three giants in Capricorn.

As Capricorn tries to create order, Aries will revolt if it gets in the way of what Aries wants to do. The bigger the obstacle, the better. Mars in Aries energizes the fighting spirit in all of us. There’s an element of courage under fire. There could be a battle, potentially between government restrictions (Saturn in Capricorn) and the people’s will for autonomy (Mars in Aries).

What might it look like?

Should I list some potentials here? Sure.

Attack (Mars) on government (Saturn). Attack on business. Attack on anything Capricorn. Self or collective Will (Mars) clashing with Tradition (Saturn Cap). Social upheaval. Protests, riots, rage – rage towards a system that is not working for everyone. Rage and anger (Mars) towards a system (Cap Saturn) that does not support the individual (Aries). Attack (Mars) on government vision and wealth (Saturn, Jupiter, Pluto, Capricorn).

Me using the word “attack” does not necessarily mean an actual, physical attack but it most certainly could. There will be a challenge of some sort. I don’t play chess very often but I can see Mars advancing on the board, Saturn saying “check mate” and then Mars ripping the whole thing off the table.

How does it look for America?

Looking at America’s Sibly chart (because I’m obsessed), Aries is in 4th house, 5th sign from the Ascendant. Mars moving through there and causing issues for Saturn/Jupiter/Pluto is a big deal. Trouble on the homefront. Tensions building at home. It’s personal. Housing crisis of some sort. Agriculture. Issues with crops. Problems with the food supply chain. Hitting us where it hurts, at our foundation, our core. Intense desire to express ourselves. Need for autonomy. What do we stand for? Who are we? What are we built upon?

America’s Chiron is in the 4th house, which has a lot to do with who we are as a family and also has much to do with race relations, how much of America’s wound is rooted in the unfortunate idea that some people belong here and some do not. Mars moving through this area, kicking up the dirt, could have hard-hitting racial implications. Who “belongs” in America could be a theme causing problems.

Aries being the 5th sign from the AC, there could be problems with children or the entertainment sector. Problems with sports, pastimes, hobbies, speculation (stock market?). Capricorn is in the 2nd house. Financial upheaval. Crisis with the banking system. Liquidity crisis (nothing the Fed can’t solve, I’m sure!).

This is all activating America’s Mercury/Pluto/Chiron T-square. Oh, this gets gnarly. Younger generation rising up against the wealthy. Acting from our wounds. Not belonging. A conflict that breaks down bloated wealth, potentially by force. Racial and class tensions exacerbated, housing crisis, wrecking the economy (2nd, 8th houses). Disruptions to trade and commerce sectors. Death. Transportation issues. Media crisis. Needing a new economic system.

Perhaps we need a new birth chart for our country? Can we just make a new Constitution? America 2.0? I’m not saying ALL of the above will happen. I am literally listing terrible possibilities here. But, it’s heavy stuff. That T-square for ‘Murica is a big part of our chart, our identity.

That T-square consists of Mercury in the 8th house opposing Pluto in the 2nd house, both squared by Chiron in the 4th house. T-squares often create so much tension that the focal planet takes the brunt of the energy. For America, the focal planet is Chiron. We are stuck in our Chiron. America cannot let go of its wound of who belongs here. I believe that implementing the Ghost Point of the T-square helps break up the energy a bit and takes some of the slack off of the focal planet. For America, the Ghost Point would be in Libra. We need to stick together. We need to work together. We need to reach out to one another and connect. United we stand, divided we fall.

Not looking so good for the U.S. economy. I don’t even need the sky to predict that at this point. I’m not trying to scare anybody. If you know something is coming, you have a better chance of ducking, right?

I think back to the protests that happened when Mercury was in Aries and shudder. I was already concerned about the Mars in Aries shit later this year, even before any global chaos/virus ensued, but seeing those people with guns storming government buildings in multiple U.S. states was disheartening, to say the least. Has it really come to this? A total nightmare?

Anne Ortelee also mentioned this. She said Mercury brings the message and Mars brings the action. Well, we’ve already gotten the message…

Mars in Retrograde

Folks, this story gets even juicier! This is what makes Mars in Aries an even bigger deal than before. Mars will be in Aries from the end of June 2020 until the first week of January 2021. Let that sink in a little.

There will be tension that entire time. A shit ton of energy will be created on a consistent basis and it will need to be expressed one way or another. Maybe all of the ways. A lot of things are going to happen. A lot of change, probably abrupt change.

The reason Mars will be in Aries for so long is that the God of War will retrograde from 28 Aries in early-mid September all the way back to 15 Aries in mid-November. Mars will slow down in August, squaring all three planets in Capricorn in the middle to end of the month (including squaring Saturn for over a week!), then move retrograde and square everything again (also moving slower than usual) from late September to mid-October, and then go direct in November and square Pluto in Cap again at the end of December just as Jupiter and Saturn form their Grand Conjunction at 0 Aquarius.

And then Mars will hit that. It will move into Taurus around the 6th-7th of January 2021 and square Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius within days of each other.

Just typing all of that up, I need a breather.

There will be three different clashes between Mars and all the planets in Capricorn/Aquarius. The retrograde clashes suggest a revision of strategy. Will it be our strategy for combating the virus, or will it be something else? Restructuring the government and big business because of economic fallout from the virus? Or, will we be visited by aliens?

Honestly, anything could happen. Anything that gets the energy in motion to complete what the planets are requiring of us can happen.

I always thought this crazy episode would have something to do with the upcoming election in America, being as it’s around the same time. But now, with this global pandemic happening, I feel the virus must be part of the storyline as well. Either way, there will be immense social unrest.

Please take care of yourselves and each other.