Mars is the planet of energy and action. No Mars, no activity. It is also the planet of anger and violence. Mars doesn’t care if the energy is used for work or a fight. As long as there is action.
Under Mars transits, we feel the need for greater activity and assertiveness in the area that is being hit. That’s all. Nothing big or grand or deep or “cosmic.” Just activity. It’s up to us to decide if the action will be positive or negative.
Don’t expect Mars transits to bring big things to you or mark major turning points in your life. Mars, Venus, and Mercury deal with the small everyday events. But without that Mars impetus to action, nothing at all can get done. Mars is frequently active during those big, defining moments.
However, it only functions as a “trigger” activating other major transits that are taking place at that those times. Be sure to check the progressions of Mars as well.
The interpretation is the same as for the transits, only for a much longer time. While a transit of Mars usually has an effect for two to three days, a progression can easily last for two to three years.
Mars Transits Through Your 1st House: Forward, charge. Whatever tasks you have to do, this is a good time to dive right in. Arguments, however, are more likely because you are pushier at this time. If your birth chart shows a temper, you have to be extra careful to avoid open battles at this time. Or rather, the people around you have to be careful.
Mars Transits Through Your 2nd House: Action with money. Unfortunately, Mars doesn’t care if the money is coming in or going out. Watch expenses, particularly impulse buying. This is definitely not a good time to buy a big ticket item. You will tend to overpay. But it is good if you have to put in some overtime and earn extra cash.
Mars Transits Through Your 3rd House: Action with communications and short trips. A good time to get those letters, memos, and faxes out and to make those phone calls. Extra energy will be available also for running errands around the neighborhood. If you already have trouble with siblings or neighbors, be careful when Mars goes through your 3rd house. This transit makes arguments more likely. There is little chance of this, however, if the relationship is good.
Mars Transits Through Your 4th House: A good time to do work around the house. If you live with someone else, you may have to keep busy during this transit if you want to avoid arguments.
Mars Transits Through Your 5th House: Usually time for some fun and games. If you are physically able to do so, this is a good period for sports activities. Yes, romance is also included here if you are so inclined. So are activities in any sort of creative endeavor, as well as activities with children.
If there are stress aspects (conjunction, square, or opposition) watch out for injuries in sports and arguments with romantic partners or children.
Mars Transits Through Your 6th House: Get busy. This is the house of work and that is the best outlet for your energy when Mars transits your 6th house. If there are stress aspects (conjunction, square, or opposition) be careful of accidents while working, or arguments with co-workers. The stress aspects also increase the chance of arguments with anyone who is providing a service for you (store clerks, plumbers, etc.).
Mars Transits Through Your 7th House: “Activity” with partners. The 7th house covers all one-on-one relationships. Yes, that takes in marriage and business partnerships. It also includes “open” enemies, the ones you know are opposing you. If there are irritations in your relationships, Mars transiting your 7th house will clear the air — one way or another. If you are trying to avoid arguments, then take extra care during this transit. On the positive side, it can be a good time for making contacts. The Mars effect can be quite social here.
Mars Transits Through Your 8th House: This house rules Sex and credit and you know what that means. That’s right. Be extra careful about spending too much with credit cards. Mars is impulsive. Oh yes. Mars transiting through this house can also increase sexual desires.
Mars Transits Through Your 9th House: A good time to take a long trip or a course of higher education, since you will have the energy. However, Mars can also make us fearless, restless, and reckless, which can be a difficult combination. While on a long trip, you have to overcome an urge to take risks or have arguments. There is also a tendency to get into arguments over general principles (“The Republicans are great!” “What! Are you crazy? The Democrats are better!”). Be especially careful of getting into arguments over the internet (which is a long-distance medium).
Mars Transits Through Your 10th House: This gives you extra energy for your career. Be careful, though, about arguments with your boss or a parent, because you are taking orders makes you more irritated at this time. A good time, generally, to begin business projects or make career moves.
Mars Transits Through Your 11th House: A good time to go out and make new friends. Also, good for taking action to fulfill your “hopes and wishes.” If Mars makes stressful aspects while transiting this house, be careful of arguments with friends.
Mars Transits Through Your 12th House: Mars energizes whatever it touches and this is the house of “restrictions” and “psychological problems. These could come to the surface during this transit. The best way to handle going through your 12th house is to stay a little more in the background. Use this time to prepare for the new projects that you will be able to start when Mars enters your 1st house in a few weeks.
Mars Transits in Aspect to Your Natal Sun: The conjunction is usually a good time to start things. The trine and sextile aspects also tend to increase your energy and your get-up-and-go. The square and opposition can energize you too much. Remember, Mars is also the planet of arguments. With Mars aspecting the Sun, the arguments are more likely to occur with men. As always, be sure to check and see what other aspects are hitting you at the same time.
Mars Transits in Aspect to Your Natal Moon: The stressful aspects (conjunction, square, and opposition) increase the chance of arguments, especially with women. Needless to say, your temper and your patience will probably be shorter when there is a stressful aspect from transiting Mars to your Moon. Your emotions are noticeably more active now and you will feel things more intensively.. This is true for the harmonious aspects (sextile and trine) as well as for the stressful ones, but, of course, the emotions are less volatile with the sextile and trine. Sex will tend to be better because of an increased desire for physical action as well as the heightened state of our emotions. If you have a short temper to begin with, watch out for those stressful aspects.
Mars Transits in Aspect to Your Natal Mercury: Mercury communicates and Mars attacks. With the stressful aspects (conjunction, square, and opposition) watch your mouth! This is a good combination if you have to have an important debate and present your point of view forcefully. The problem is that Mars doesn’t care if the discussion is important or not. You could easily find yourself getting involved in minor disputes that quickly escalate into major conflicts. The harmonious aspects (sextile and trine) enable you to handle these energies more smoothly. With any Mars transit to your natal Mercury, you should be able to handle any communication task with grater ease because Mars craves action and gives courage.
Mars Transits in Aspect to Your natal Venus: Yes, I know what you are thinking. Mars is passion and energy. Venus is love. Well yes, that is always one possibility. Remember though, that Venus also rules art and creativity, ease and comfort. Of course this is a good time to look for love, but you could just as easily take an art course under this transit. And don’t forget to check the houses that are involved. Suppose that you are born with Venus in the 9th house (long journeys and higher education). A Mars transit might spur you to take a luxury vacation. If the aspect is stressful (a conjunction, square, or opposition) you wouldn’t be too particular about the cost and you would be kicking yourself later. Suppose that the sign of Libra (which is ruled by Venus) is on the cusp (beginning) of the 6th house (work and service, co-workers and subordinates). While you are busy thinking about an upturn in your love life, you could have an argument on the job or with a cab driver. On the other hand, you might wind up getting involved with a co-worker or a cab driver! After all, Mars is passion and Venus is love.
Mars Transits in Aspect to Your Natal Mars: Action and aggression in aspect with action and aggression! Don’t just sit there, DO something! As always with Mars, make sure that you don’t start unnecessary fights or arguments, especially with the stressful aspects (conjunction, square, and opposition). If you are the type of person who suppresses angry feelings and keeps them inside, this transit could drive you up the wall. It could also cause you to boil over inside and give you physical ailments. On the positive side, transiting Mars aspecting your natal Mars is a good time for doing anything that requires physical activity. This is a good time to schedule some extra work. It can also be a good time to schedule extra fun if you are so inclined. Mars doesn’t care. It’s happy as long as there is plenty of action.
Mars Transits in Aspect to Your Natal Jupiter: Mars activates whatever it touches. Jupiter is the planet of expansion. When Mars transits your natal Jupiter, you are likely to have more confidence and enthusiasm. Watch out, though, for overconfidence and over-enthusiasm. With the stressful aspects (square and opposition) only; the conjunction tends to be positive with this combination) well, I wouldn’t make any investment decisions when those are active. Be careful as well of taking physical risks when transiting Mars makes a square or opposition to your natal Jupiter. No bunjee jumping or hang gliding please, no matter how much fun it seems to be.
Mars Transits in Aspect to Your Natal Saturn: On the positive side, Mars transiting your natal Saturn is an excellent time for hard work. The tendency of Saturn to concentrate and focus things can work quite well with the raw energy of Mars. These are good times to schedule projects requiring hard work. Be extra careful, though, about working with sharp instruments (Mars) when it aspects Saturn (bad luck) for obvious reasons. The negative side of the Mars/Saturn combination shows up strongest with the stressful aspects, the conjunction, square, and opposition. Mars activates whatever it touches and Saturn is the point in our horoscope where we feel at our weakest and most vulnerable. Things that you normally wouldn’t notice seem especially irritating now. This is not a good day to deal with authority figures or older people (older by at least seven years). Don’t ask the boss for a raise today. And watch your temper. This is a very bad time to get into an argument or (God forbid) a fight. Ironically, it is a very good time to plan or practice for a battle, because Saturn rules planning and preparation. Fortunately, Mars transits usually pass in a couple of days. However, there are exceptions. If Mars turns retrograde or direct in motion while near your Saturn, the effect could last for a few months. And if the aspect is from progressed Mars instead of transiting Mars, the effect could last for two years. In that case, get set for a long period of hard work. I know that sounds like a drag (well, it IS a drag) but if you plan well and aim in the right direction, the rewards will follow after the progression has passed.
Mars Transits in Aspect to Your Natal Uranus: When Mars transits your natal Uranus, you will get new insight into the meaning of the words rash, impulsive, sudden, and unexpected. The stressful aspects (conjunction, square, and opposition) are the worst offenders here, but sometimes, even the harmonious trine and sextile act up. This combination can make you more accident prone. It does that by making you rush things which, of course, increases the chances of accidents. Make an extra effort to do things more slowly now, no matter how much you may want to charge ahead at full speed.
Another negative effect is the I-Can’t Stand-It-I-Want-To-Change-Everything-As-Of-Yesterday syndrome. Uranus wants change for the sake of change. Your best strategy when Mars transits your natal Uranus is put things off for a couple of days and think about it just a little bit more. And Don’t Rush into Things. Isn’t that always good advice? Yes, but it’s especially good advice when you are really hot to charge ahead, as you will tend to be under this transit. On the positive side, this transit (especially the harmonious sextile and trine) can give you the motivation to break out of ruts, to see things from a new perspective, to make overdue changes.
Mars Transits in Aspect to Your Natal Neptune: Mars activates whatever it touches. Neptune is your imagination and dreams. On the negative side, Neptune also rules everything that can induce dreams, like alcohol or drugs. If you have tendencies towards substance abuse, be extra careful during this transit. Avoid making any major business deals or major purchases at this time, because you will tend to see only what you want to see. Be extra careful of deception while the Mars/Neptune combination is in effect. That includes a sudden desire that You may have to deceive someone, which is also a possibility here. As usual, the worst effects come with the stressful aspects, the conjunction, square, and opposition. On the positive side, Mars transiting in aspect to your natal Neptune is excellent for anything involving creativity and imagination, especially anything to do with art, painting, film making, dance, and music. It is also good for any volunteer charity work that you may want to do.
Mars Transits in Aspect to Your Natal Pluto: Pluto is said to be the higher octave of Mars. Mars rules direct action. Pluto rules volcanoes and thermonuclear blasts. It is sort of like Mars on steroids. A lot of steroids. If you are normally an aggressive person, this transit can make you intolerable. If you are normally passive, you are more likely to attract aggressive bullies at this time. The best way to deal with that one is to try to let your own assertiveness out a little more than you normally do. This is absolutely not the time to visit a tough neighborhood at night, especially with the stressful aspects (the conjunction, square, and opposition). However it is a great time to get rid of things. Pluto is the planet of elimination (it rules Scorpio). Since your energy level tends to be supercharged now, you can also schedule any task that requires extra energy. That includes sex (also ruled by Pluto).
Mars Transits in Aspect to Your Natal Ascendant: The Ascendant shows how we start things, but, since it is always exactly opposite the Descendant, transits to it will also affect your relationships. Arguments are more likely during the stressful aspects (conjunction, square, and opposition). With the harmonious aspects (sextile and trine) you are less likely to attract disputes, but can give a good account of yourself should someone try to push you around. On the positive side, you will tend to have more energy and initiative now. The conjunction, sextile, and trine are excellent for starting new projects. With the opposition, you probably wouldn’t get cooperation from others. The opposition is a good time to continue with something you have already started, and to make any necessary changes in your original plans.
Mars Transits in Aspect to Your Natal Mid-Heaven: The stressful aspects (conjunction, square, and opposition) are a really great time to have an argument with your boss or your parents. You are much less likely to want to take orders now. However, this is an excellent time to push career matters and make progress towards your life goals (Mars is energy, the Mid-Heaven is career). Since anything aspecting the Mid-Heaven is also aspecting the opposite point, the Nadir, that gets activated at the same time. This means that this is a good time to do work around the house. In fact, that is one of the best ways to avoid having arguments in the home. Remember, if Mars doesn’t feel like it’s getting enough action, it will create its own action. You may not like that. It is much better to use our planetary energies than to be used by them.