ASPECTS OF THE SUN AND MARS

            Since the planet Mars has an orbit that lies beyond that of the Earth, it follows that, unlike

Mercury and Venus, it can form all possible aspects with the Sun.

            The aspects formed by planets with the Sun are not as a rule susceptible of such detailed

treatment as those formed between two planets, despite their great importance.  This is due to the

fact that the astrological value of the Sun is of a simple or primal character, whereas the planets

possess values of varying complexity, so that their mutual aspects produce a more intricate blend

than can arise from contacts between the Sun and any one planet.

            In the case of the Sun-Mars aspects the problem is the more simple because Mars itself is

not at all dissimilar to the Sun, although it is more aggressive, less affectional, and more directly

practical.

 

THE HARMONIOUS ASPECTS

            These indicate great energy, and, subject to the remainder of the map, much actual daring

and adventurousness.   Nevertheless, this energy is frequently expressed in intellectual fields and is

by no means always concerned with adventures in the usual sense of this word.

            There is usually strength and hardihood of body, though the physique is often spare and

wiry rather than heavy and powerful.  There is quick decision, alertness and ability in all matters

appertaining to objective problems.   Nothing is too much trouble; the native likes to exercise his

powers both physical and mental, and he is never happy unless doing something.  He is far happier

when busy performing or discussing his own doings than when forced to listen to others.  If airy or

mutable signs rise the energy is often intellectual; with watery signs ascending the force of character

is seen in the personality, which is of the kind often called magnetic.  Regard must also naturally be

paid to the signs containing the aspecting bodies themselves, but in any case there will probably be

a decisive type of character, knowing well what it thinks, wishes and intends.

            The profounder Scorpio side of Mars often causes the native to be a seeker after “hidden”

things, a deep thinker, and an incisive, close-knit writer, such as R.W. Emerson.  It likes epigram

and apothegm.  The same influence makes the native secretive, having a distinct inner side that is

rarely exhibited; it is also productive of personal dignity and self-control.  Likewise patient endurance

of physical pain comes under this configuration, such as was exempliefied by the late Earl Curzon.  

It may be emphatically said that the aspects of the Sun and Mars are by no means the purely

pugnacious and brawn-producing influences that they are sometimes supposed to be: in their

highest manifestation they signify the true hero, or man who fights, as it were, in the front ranks of

mankind for the welfare of the race, a modern Hercules, in the ideal sense of the myth.

            Note that even the Harmonious contacts usually bring some of the effects more often

ascribed to the Inharmonious, especially if either body is weak by sign or by other aspects.   But

these are likely to fall short of actual harm and may be rather of the nature of narrow escapes.   For

example, Lord Roberts was in the utmost danger when he won his Victoria Cross.

 

THE CONJUNCTION

            I do not think that this can be differentiated from the Trine and Sextile, except that it usually

denotes some danger of physical injury or disease – usually the former.   It is tremendously hard-

working, and may toil on the verge of break-down year after year.   On the whole it is beneficial,

unless the Conjunction itself receives other important bad aspects; but it will bring some of the

deleterious effects of the bad aspects into the life.

 

THE INHARMONIOUS ASPECTS

            These are likely to be most obvious in physical rather than psychological form, though there

is sure to be great excitability, a tendency to run risks and to overwork, a love of hazard, and a

headlong precipitate disposition, combative, self-opinionated, often generous-hearted and well-

meaning, but without calm, poise, or impartial judgment.

            In some cases the native espouses causes and has a conviction that he ought to lead

crusades and seek the reformation of everyone and everything (except perhaps himself); in other

cases the quarrel is more personal and is with individuals.  One meets types who seem incapable of

agreeing to any statement: there is always a desire to contradict or at least to modify.  It is said that it

takes two to make a quarrel, but people with this configuration sometimes seem as if, failing any

other antagonist, they would almost set one hand against the other.  But, as with good contacts, this

predisposition is often expressed in mental form rather than physical, especially if the body is too frail

to encourage the latter.   It is an influence which seems to force the native to fight something, and

even if he is a convinced pacifist he will be a militant one.   In religion there is a love of military forms,

and the conception of being a “soldier” of God is a favourite one.

            Politics, military exploits, boating, sporting, and debating are all common pursuits.

            These afflictions (especially the Square) are common in criminal maps and probably lead to

evil courses by their imprudent, hasty tendency and their lack of restraining imagination; I do not

consider the contacts in themselves actually immoral or even cruel, but they do not promote the

cultivation of the finer feelings, because of their restlessness and objectivism.

            There is less probability of disease, I think, than of accidents and strain through over-work.  I

know a man with Sun Square Mars who has never missed a day’s work in his life, though he has

had several serious strains and is not strong.   Nevertheless there seems good evidence that

a closeOpposition of the Sun to Mars is decidedly injurious to health.   The heart may be affected,

but not necessarily gravely.  Such complaints as may arise are usually acute, painful, but not

prolonged.  

            The children of the native seem as a rule to be few and they are likely to be of a Martian

type in some respect (*) and to be liable to febrile complaints and accidents.  This is particularly true

of the first male child.  With all Soli-Martian aspects there is a tendency for the father, husband, and

eldest child to exhibit Martian qualities to a greater of less degree.

            (*)Although these family influences are not easily reduced to rule they are marked in many cases and are very interesting.  From the point of view of the nativity the family is merely one of the channels through which the effects of the planetary influences make their way to the native.  It is hardly a question of heredity except in the sense that our map is our heritage.  The use of the word may lead to serious misconceptions, as is usually the case when we apply the terms of physical science to astrological facts.  A boy with the Sun in aspect to Mars is just as likely to meet the effects of this aspect in a master as in a parent or elder brother.  Astrological heredity, if there be such a thing, is something much wider than any eugenist conceives.  It overlaps physical bounds.

 

 

            As an example of the above statement take King Georg V. with Sun in aspect to Mars.   His father had Sun in Scorpio and his eldest son has Mars rising in its own sign.