Because of his proximity to the Sun, Mars is currently invisible to us and does not appear at all in the evening, night or morning sky.
The Sun & Mars are both essentially the planets of the Masculine identity. The Sun can be seen as the “higher harmonic” or mental/rational element of the masculine function while Mars represents the instinctual/survival impulses and/or desire nature. A dialogue between these two functions becomes necessary for the healthy expression of each. This dialogue can be illuminated by exploring the phase aspect made between these two planets. This gives us the archetypal relationship which symbolizes the holistic masculine function –and which thus points the way toward experiencing Campbell’s “monomyth” –the Archetypal journey of the Hero.
A closer inspection of the Zodiac reveals that recently Mars was being chased down by the Sun – began to fall within his grasp –and was finally swallowed into the invisible Underworld. In the Underworld, there was a conception –which occurred at the seed moment of the New cycle –the conjunction of Dec 5.
In the June/July ‘08 issue of The Mountain Astrologer, I explored the concept of the Hero in terms of the 4 Astrological elements. Those of you who have seen delineations of Jung’s four psychological types according to astrological elements can probably see where I am going. There are four basic paths the hero may take toward self-knowledge and spiritual awakening. These are warrior/fire, martyr/water, wanderer/air and magician/earth. The warrior is the traditional figure we have come to almost exclusively identify with the hero. The warrior fights, slays or conquers and learns through competition. The martyr appeases or sacrifices and learns by taking care of others. The wanderer rejects what some would call safety–and flees it –learning instead by autonomy and independence. The magician seeks to incorporate and affirm all paths and learns through peer relationship.
As we noted before, the Sun and Mars are both by nature fiery –and with Mars in the fire sign of the Sagittarius –it seems Warrior/Hero has “seeded” a new Hero. This can be seen via the relationship between Sun/Mars that the Warrior/Hero is initiating a “seed moment.” This seems to be the crossing of some threshold which has as yet invisible yet extremely powerful consequences.
Mars in Sagittarius was the conception of a new 26 month Journey –a new collective Mars. His conjunction with the Sun is analogous to the conjunction of Sun and Moon at the New Moon. The conjunction is the time the “seed message” is impressed upon Mars at the beginning of his cycle. Like the seed planted in a human womb, this union occurs in secret –as Mars is invisible from view in the Underworld.
The transit of Mars thru Capricorn will bear a special significance as this is where he will make his heliacal rise or Birth back into visibility. But for now, during the long nights of the Winter Solstice, Mars remains invisible within the Womb of Tartarus or the UnderWorld. Yet, something is definitely growing inside the womb of the Earth.
Can you feel it?