Mars

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and is named for the Roman god of war. It takes about two years to pass through all twelve signs, slower than Mercury or Venus because it lies farther from the Sun.

What it stands for

• drive
• action
• courage
• aggression

In the birth chart

In the birth chart Mars shows drive: how a person goes after what they want, how they fight, and how they spend physical energy. Traditional descriptions credit a strong Mars with decisiveness, courage and ambition, and a difficult one with impulsiveness and a short temper.

The name and the myth

Mars was the Roman god of war and, before that, of farming and the spring. His Greek counterpart is Ares. The planet's red colour made the link to blood and fire.

How astrology reads it

Astrology traditionally set Mars among the malefic planets because of its link to conflict, though modern writers prefer to call it the planet of action. It rules Aries and, in the older scheme, Scorpio. It is said to be at its strongest in Capricorn, where it is exalted, and weakest in Cancer.

Signs: Aries, Scorpio (older scheme).

In tarot

In the Golden Dawn scheme, Mars goes with The Tower, Two of Wands, Seven of Wands, Five of Cups, Ten of Cups, Nine of Swords and Three of Pentacles.

Planets other than the Sun and Moon seem to move backwards at times. How retrograde planets are read.

Tarot, astrology and numerology are traditions of symbolism. This page says what the tradition associates with its subject. It does not predict anything and it is not advice.