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Kuja - Mars
“Cruel with red eyes is Mars, moving to and fro, of torn form, Pitta nature, angry, with a thin medium sized body.”
The cruel nature of Mars is not because he is a bad or even necessarily a destructive force. This nature refers to a temperament, a capacity and a feeling that emanates from him. There's no judgment in the word “cruel”, yet the capacity to act in a cruel nature, especially through anger, is shown by Mars. There are times when we need to act with cruelty, to protect our physical body. At this time the adrenals fire and we get a superhuman rush of power, this comes from Mars. Yet Mars does not necessarily act through anger. The capacity for anger and destruction comes from Mars, yet if his energy is aligned with a worthy cause, Mars will fight for peace. As such Mars rules our principles and which principles we are willing to defend and go to battle over, and how we defend those principles. The destructive nature of Mars emerges when we defend causes that are related more to the ego and our limited nature, rather than the real source of weakness, which is our own ignorance. When Mars is aligned with a worthy cause, rather than destroy our personal relationships or our peace of mind, he destroys our ignorance and the demons of our lower nature. Until that time, however, the opinionated, self-willed and combative nature of Mars may be the very thing we’re struggling against. Mars gives “strength “according to the scriptures, it takes a powerful Mars, aligned with a divine purpose, to give us the strength and discipline and courage to fight the good fight. In many ways life on Earth is a battle, and we had better learn the art of war and who the real enemy is. This is real strength. Mars refers to the “General” in the planetary cabinet. It is the general who trains the troops makes them strong, keeps them tough and ready for battle. Yet just because the troops are trained and tough, doesn't mean there's always a war. Very rarely do we need to use the fighting nature of Mars externally, yet internally we are always being tested and tempted to slide on our principles and what we know is best for us. Thus his disciplined nature, keeping us strong, keeping us tough, keeping us facing the truth courageously, is how he is best used. Day-to-day, the capacity to wake up early, eat the right food, do our spiritual practices, is the highest Mars energy manifest.
Keywords: Self-will, opinions, courage, brothers, fighting, discipline, logic, principled action
Exalted in Capricorn. The courageous and will full nature of Mars is exalted in the Cardinal Earth sign of Capricorn. The cautious and practical nature of Capricorn supports and modifies the self-willed and potentially reckless nature of Mars. Capricorn is also a sign of duty and responsibility, as well as karmic purpose. Thus, understanding the consequences of our actions elevates the nature of Mars. Capricorn as a Cardinal, yet female (reflective) sign brings a necessary introspection to his energy. This exaltation point is very powerful, as it refers to the kundalini, the fire at the base of the spine, in the Muladhara Chakra. It takes a powerful, disciplined Mars, aligned courageously with the right cause, to begin the ultimate journey towards liberation.
Debilitated in Cancer. The intensely emotional and subjective nature of Cancer waters down the courage and clarity of Mars, leading to confusion, indecision and frustration as to what to fight for, where to compromise, etc. Planets in Cancer become soft and introspective, seeking to merge their energies with what they influence. This is not the nature of Mars. Mars is not the planet of compromise; he is the planet of right action. If we don't trust the integrity of our actions, how will we know where and when to compromise? In the case of a weak Mars, we may simply compromise out of fear of facing a challenge, rather than from a source of strength. It is easy to be peaceful when afraid. Yet lacking the courage for battle renders our peaceful efforts weak indeed and leaves us feeling frustrated.