Astrologers have various eloquent ways of describing how the position of Mars in a natal chart reflects back in the personality. Stripped down to its bare bones, I see Mars as pure energy, a driving force that can be used for good or ill. The "ill" half of that, in its worst form is, of course, violence and war. As Mars is with us always, war and other forms of violence are with us always. The seed is within us all. Romans celebrated Mars and all it stood for, including war. We (or some of us) have moved on since then.
As it happens today, 19 October, was a day set aside in Rome to honor Mars:
I guess we could all spare a thought today to honor the positive energy and drive that life bestows on us (aka Mars energy), while at the same time reminding ourselves that it has a dark, very dark, side which needs always to be kept in check.
Coincidentally, Michelle of the "Crows Feet" blog has just produced a lovely video which fits in well with my last point. With her permission, here it is. Thank you, Michelle for a beautiful piece of work:
As it happens today, 19 October, was a day set aside in Rome to honor Mars:
The Armilustrium was a festival in honor of Mars, the god of war, celebrated on October 19. On this day the weapons of the soldiers were ritually purified and stored for winter. The army would be assembled and reviewed in the Circus Maximus, garlanded with flowers and the trumpets (tubae) would be played as part of the purification rites. The Romans gathered with their arms and armour on the Aventine Hill, and held a procession with torches and sacrificial animals. The dancing priests of Mars known as the Salii may also have taken part in the ceremony.
I guess we could all spare a thought today to honor the positive energy and drive that life bestows on us (aka Mars energy), while at the same time reminding ourselves that it has a dark, very dark, side which needs always to be kept in check.
Coincidentally, Michelle of the "Crows Feet" blog has just produced a lovely video which fits in well with my last point. With her permission, here it is. Thank you, Michelle for a beautiful piece of work:
An interesting article, and so timely. Mars is by far the weakest planet of my Natal chart. But it's placed 24 degrees Libra, where the New Moon happened in Sunday morning (in Europe). I've yet to tell if this new Moon is for good or ill, but let's just say that there hasn't been anything "subtle" about this New Moon to me, it's been distinctively Martian.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about the video! An excellent reminder for all. Good Aquarius find!! :-)
ReplyDeleteI think Mars reflects much of life. If you look at history, the countries that have caused most of the wars also produced much of the great intellectual and artistic work.
ReplyDeleteCandela ~~ Luckily, anything connected with the Moon is going to be fairly fleeting, anything negative or hard to take will soon pass, I guess. This is a good thing, because for many of us the Moon can pack a fairly strong punch.
ReplyDelete;-)
neith ~~~ Yes, Michelle played a blinder with that one! :-)
ReplyDeleteanthonynorth ~~~ That's true. Rome, - the Roman Empire, for instance, gets a bad press for its dreadful brutality, and yet it left behind in its wake so much that was helpful to civilisation - even to this day.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing my video, Twilight. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's a fine presentation. Loved the video.
ReplyDeletePeace starts here.
An excellent line.
Michelle~~~ Oh, it was my privilege! It should be shared farther and wider too! :-)
ReplyDeleteanyjazz ~~ It's excellent isn't it?
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of talent in blogland. :-)
Don't stop posting such stories. I like to read blogs like this. BTW add some pics :)
ReplyDeleteSteaveTheMighty
Cool post as for me. It would be great to read something more concerning this matter. Thnx for giving that information.
ReplyDeleteJoan Stepsen
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Joan ~ Glad it was of interest. Thank you for commenting.
ReplyDelete:-)