The Dance of Fire

One may wonder where all the violence and ongoing unrest are originating from, and why a major eruption of the long-standing anger which has been caused by deep and long-existing social issues has occurred right now…

An interesting fact is the ongoing action of the Red Planet in the astrological panorama of this lunar month. For this whole Lunar Cycle the Sun and Mars are in fact remaining interlocked in an ongoing square in Mutable Signs, at a time when Solar Activity remains relatively high. Several factors are determining a tense atmosphere around the globe, however in this article we will focus on the characteristics of the present lunar cycle.

Mars’ cycle lasts for about two years, whereas the Solar journey around the zodiac is obviously a yearly one. The present circumstances have brought the Red Planet in a long and synchronized square with the Sun, which is currently transiting Airy Gemini. This is not a major situation itself, but the fact that the extensive square acts across the first two decanates of Gemini-Pisces is a big statement indeed.

Graphic projection of the current transits of the Sun, Moon and Mars (4^th Harmonic Aspects)

It should be remembered that the USA Independence Declaration chart (July 4^th 1776), which is commonly used in mundane astrology when it comes to national affairs, shows Uranus and Mars on the 8^th and 21^st degrees of Gemini, respectively. On July 4^th 1776 Mars also formed a square with Neptune at 22 degrees of Virgo. Evidently, major planetary activations of those Mutable degrees have proved to be historically influential for the USA. The current Sun-Mars transit is not a major, long-standing influence over the national horoscope, but the concomitant presence of Neptune at 20 degrees of Pisces definitely enhances the meaning of this prolonged aspect between our Star and the Red Planet.

Generally, Mars-Neptune interactions are not easy to navigate, simply because they bring together two very different energies, with the former addressing activism and individual action, and the latter dissolving any attempt at self-individuating and concentrating ego-consciousness.

In simple words, Mars’ cycle is determinant of self-oriented actions and individualistic drive, whereas Neptune’s contacts are evidently linked with loss of direction, in favor of greater unity and unified consciousness. When these two archetypal forces are connected to each other, whether this happens in a natal chart, through progressions, directions or transits, strength meets sacrifice. The combination can either be extremely creative or destructive. Many artists carry such aspects in their natal charts; these astrological features are in fact known to increase the capacity for “glamorizing” and “self-idolizing“. On the other hand, any strong Mars-Neptune influence can result in blind violence and the adoption of a cause which, to the individuals and communities affected, appears as “redeeming and just”. In either ways, because Neptune is involved, the collectivity is affected as well.

Neptune’s realm is always a hall of mirrors.
The Astrological Neptune and the Quest for Redemption (p. 296) – Liz Greene, Red Wheel Weiser.

When dealing with the archetypal force of Neptune’s astrological cycle, an insurmountable sense of confusion is likely to arise. Neptunian energy is highly mutable, and as specified by Greene, its elusive essence is hardly clear-cut and definable. The dynamics which arise at times of important alignments of Neptune are highly utopian and therefore surreal. The quest for perfection which the Neptunian individual called to action engages with is often descriptive of a pathway to self-destruction, rather than constructive behavior. As is the case with the other transpersonal planets, Neptune’s influence is connected with the interests of the collective, rather than that of the individual. The effects which can derive from its force are unquantifiable and unbounded, because the expansion of consciousness this planet calls for is infinite. This means that, under specific configurations which involve Neptune, the result can be messianic and self-righteous. Such attitudes can be translated into “good” or “bad” actions which have the incredible potential to drive society towards an either empathic or fanatic experience.

The latest New Moon in Gemini, which marked the current “monthly trend”, formed a square with Mars in Pisces. The Red Planet’s transit through this Water Sign indicates some kind of “energetic dispersion“, because the one-pointed action of Mars is not easily kept on track in there. This is a vital consideration which helps us understand the uncontainable wave of confused anger which is occurring around the world, and especially in the USA.

Ephemeris data for Midnight GMT (SOLAR FIRE v9.0.26)

The interesting fact about the current Lunar Month is that each phase of the cycle brings this unconstrained activism to the surface. In astrological terms this is identifiable because of the close synchronization between the speeds of the Sun and Mars which, being engaged in a square at the New Moon, carry on tightening such aspect throughout the month. This means that the first quarter, which overtly manifested all the anger of both peaceful and violent groups, saw the Moon in opposition to Mars. The Full Moon will also be a Lunar Eclipse (analyzed in another article called “The Energy Gets Unlocked“), and it will form an almost exact T-Square with Mars across 15 degrees Mutable. The third quarter, a phase which is traditionally perceived as heralding a degeneration of the current trends in order to make room for newness, will bring the Mars-Neptune interaction to a critical point of expression. In fact on June 13^th, the day it occurs, these two planets will be in exact conjunction, while the Moon in Pisces will reach them, forming a waning square with the Sun in Gemini. Mars and Neptune won’t meet again on the same longitude until May 18^th 2022. The important fact is that the Sun-Moon-Mars-Neptune interaction will closely align with the USA national Mars-Neptune square (Gemini-Virgo), and the President’s natal Sun (22Gemini55). This also means that Trump’s upcoming Solar Return will carry this intensely powerful configuration, which echoes the national Mars-Neptune astrological signature. For the 12 months to come, the interlock between the country and its President is going to be characterized by the combined action of these two different archetypes. Where Neptune is, scandal thrives as well, therefore a two-fold effect is likely to emerge from the configuration involved. Not only is the Administration likely to raise the winds of idealism and strongly engage in national protection policies, but the never-quenched internal criticism which has been accompanying the nation is likely to continue in a similarly blind manner. As already mentioned, all that involves Neptune is in fact a “hall of mirrors”; therefore, it is quite hard to clearly define who is right or wrong in the ongoing disputes, because blaming and self-righteousness claims are going to come from all sides within a country which is approaching a critical point in its own evolutionary path, at a very confused time of social disruption and hopefully healing.

The fact that such a highly charged Lunation is followed by the significant Solar Eclipse in Cancer (for more info read “The Great Eclipse“) is astrologically suggestive of the historic importance of these very weeks.

Mars, known as “Ares” in Ancient Greece, is often depicted as a bloodthirsty, violent and insane mythological figure, but its meaning evidently does not have to be described as solely negative. Ares was known as the God of War and his archetypal drive, which resides within everybody, was depicted by the Ancient Greeks as a furious force of nature. Its ferocity undoubtedly resonates with the influence which significant alignments of the Red Planet provoke, but the story is way more articulated. Mars’ action is one-pointed and direct (an outstanding example is the “fighting and quarreling spirit” Donald Trump is always animated with, being born with rising Mars in Leo), and therefore this planet’s “ARCHETYPAL EXPRESSION” is sometimes coincident with the eruption of anger in the form of violent acts of physical or verbal aggression. However, not everybody who carries a prominent configuration of Mars in their natal chart is “violent”, because its force can also be expressed through competitive action of a good type. If the ambitiousness of Mars, whose energy is after all self-centered, is translated into positive competitiveness – such as it happens in sports – enormous potential for growth is encountered. This becomes quite complex if Mars is exasperatedly drained in Watery Pisces, as it gets locked in an outstanding astrological configuration which involves the Utopianism of Neptune. The most important consideration to keep in mind is “trying our best to be cautious and considerate” during these very complex times. Hopefully we will all learn to use the immense creativity of the upcoming Mars-Neptune cycle in powerfully constructive ways.

Cover image: Solar Flare, by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory