War On Earth, Victory in the Heavens: Planets in Aries

If you believe in reincarnation, you know that an individual comes into life complete with a history of personal karma. He or she is born to continue developing certain patterns of personal unfoldment and to complete others; to fulfill certain promises and to plant the seeds for future endeavors. Even if you doubt reincarnation, or are not sure of its truth—even if we discount reincarnation altogether—there is still not a baby born who does not carry an ancient history into life. This is human history. It is carried in our genes, in our DNA, in the collective memory of our species. And it is carried in the Soul.

A.O.

Aries represents a beam of force emanating as an individual flame that has been taken out of the vast ocean of Cosmic Fire. Aries is thus a separate ray of sunshine that emerges from the body of the Sun. He is the individualizing ego bursting forth from Universal Mind, expressing as a ceaselessly creating impulse ever in the search to prove his existence as a single entity distinct from the masses.

Aries is the adolescent who has just realized the pulsation of the potent life force within him but who as yet remains naïve to the consequences of his potent impulsivity. Just as the seed pushes its first shoots out of the earth at the onset of Spring, Aries us that stage in human development in which the youngster must become aware of the world outside of his own psychological womb. For this reason, Aries is often quite unconscious about the mechanisms of the life beyond his own immediate perceptions. When immature and unevolved, Aries tends to judge all of existence by the extent of his own projections into his surrounding environment. He has the tremendous power of the force of creation behind him, but he either lacks or is too impatient to gain the experience necessary to bring his creative substance into a practical focus. This will be the job of the next sign, Taurus to accomplish.

The Celestial Ram symbolizes the search for the correct expression of himself. Although he may be possessed of great intrinsic courage and bravado in his approach to life, he is at heart basically rather insecure and thus if he does not get immediate returns from his initial impulses, he tends to doubt his effectiveness. Naturally with the passage of time, wisdom and life experience is gained and these personality characteristics modify and mature. We can then always count on Aries to put himself to the test and enter into the battle for correct activity.
“Activity” is certainly one of the keywords for this, the first sign of the Zodiac. In essence, Aries is mind in direct action (as compared to Gemini, for example, which is mind in simultaneous and multiple directions). As the mind always moves faster than the body and Aries embodies the fiery principle of “immanent creativity,” Aries is usually found in a continuous buzz of personally generated mental movement that drives his physical actions.

The astrological polarity to the Mars-ruled, impulsive Ram is Venus-ruled, balanced Libra, the sign of human relationships. Aries need others to support him and bring his many ideas into fruition. He is by nature a warm-hearted person, eager to defend the people he loves and seeks to protect. His fire requires intensity in all his interpersonal relations for he is easily aroused and eager for involvements. Yet his are not the fixed fires of Leo, constant and consistent, loyal and sustaining. His are cardinal fires that seek new directions, new challenges, and new conquests in terms of both people and projects. The more immature Ram is easily bored and in constant need of excitement, while the more mature Aries will require the opening of deeper doors into the context of any person, place, or creative effort. Immature Aries would do well to learn the difference between sex and love, as the latter requires the giving up of self into a greater wholeness of partnership, something that the adolescent Ram finds very difficult to do.

In general Aries seeks a complement to himself in his personal relationships, needing someone who can contain his fire, giving it direction without putting it out. The more aggressive Ram (and they are numerous!) will seek out someone who is very dependant on him and yet not clingy as the Ram, like his fiery cousin Sagittarius needs plenty of personal space. The more passive Aries lamb (and they do exist), will require in another a partner who will stimulate him into action, giving him the security he needs so that he may develop the courage that is so important to his true nature.

This courage comes from Mars, Aries’ ruling planet. In Greek, Mars is called “Ares,” from which our Celestial Ram derives his name. Mars/Ares is the Olympian god of war. Mars is traditionally depicted by two symbols. The first, is the cross of matter written above the orb of the Sun (representing both light and life). In its higher aspect, Mars (and subsequently people born under the sign of Aries) is the force that stimulates the emergence of matter out of the primal energy of the creative Spirit. Thus Mars acts as a great impetus to the individual who uses its energies wisely. This is because each one of us must emerge out of the formless primal creative substance and into an individualized ego. This is the purpose of evolution in its truest sense.

In its lower aspect, the cross over the circle signifies that the value of material objectives and the nature of the personal ego are more important that the Life of the Spirit whom we must all serve. It is then that the destructive facets of Mars come forth through the shadow sides of human nature, as people are at their most negative and violent when they put their egocentric interests and primitive desires ahead of the good of others. It is then that wars occur that are motivated by oppression and injustice.

The second of Mars’ glyphs is a pictograph of his shield and lance, the weapons that the “god of war” takes into battle. I do want to remind my readers at this point, that although most Aries people are “at war” in one way or another most of the time, many Rams fight battles are for justice and the greater good of the people they protect and the causes that they serve. This symbol also depicts the erect male phallus, symbol of the virility and procreative powers inherent in the Red Planet and likewise in the two signs that he rules: Aries and Scorpio. Just as Venus, daughter of the Moon, represents the active female principle of life (“the urge to merge”), Mars as a son of the Sun, is the active male force (“the urge for self-propagation”). Much of our modern astrology comes from the cosmology of the Greeks and by extension, the Romans. The latter people attributed Mars’ war-like nature to him. As the son of their greatest god of all, Zeus, Mars was highly respected. The Romans continued this respect by dedicating the first month of their year to him—that period known as the vernal equinox and the coming of spring. We know this month, the month of Mars/Ares/Aries, as March.
Now let’s examine the placement of the planets in the horoscope when they fall into the sign of the Celestial Ram:

Sun in Aries: All of the characteristics I have mentioned above are personified by the person with the Sun in the sign of the Celestial Ram. Aries rules the head and all of the important organs and sensory apparatus associated with it, most especially the eyes and even more specifically, the right eye. As this is the sign of the brain and Aries is the sign of “firsts,” we find many innovative thinkers born under this sign, especially if Mercury is also present here. Aries is the first rush of energy expressing itself in manifestation, thus people with the Sun in this sign can be very willful, using the will to accomplish a great deal of positive good. Yet many Aries are also premature and too impulsive for their own or anyone else’s good. They should therefore always try to think things out to a conclusion before they act.

Moon in Aries: Sudden surges in feelings can give rise to impulsive personal commitments that the person may regret over time. Problems may come about because the individual is often secure only in his or her own actions. The attachment to the instinctual nature is very strong so that a person with the Moon in this position may act out of a defensive emotional position before they have had the time to adjust themselves to their immediate surroundings to see if they have assessed the situation correctly. On a more positive note, this is an excellent position for coming up with instant solutions to complex emotional issues. Moon in Aries people often cut to the core of such confusion, responding with right action that heals, helps, and uplifts.

Mercury in Aries: The logical processes inherent in the proper functioning of Mercury in one’s life are definitely helped or decidedly hindered by this position. In the case of the former, Aries gives quick and immediate insight into mental complexities so that proper solutions are immediately found. This is a planet/sign combination that achieves its ends with as little wasted mental energy as possible. Insight and decision-making are quick and correct so that right action may follow. In the case where Mercury in Aries is afflicted (say by poor aspects from Neptune), such rapid-fire communication leads to incorrect action based on an attachment to the ideal rather than the real. Should Saturn be in poor aspect to Mercury in Aries for example, such indecision leads to great frustration and subsequent inactivity to loss.

Venus in Aries: This is the sign of “detriment” for Venus as it is opposite Venus’ own sign, Libra both in zodiacal position as well as in meaning. Personal relationships are often created as a reflection of one’s own romantic ideals, thus when in a relationship with a person with Venus in Aries, you are in that person’s concept of relationship much more than in any type of mutuality. There is also the tendency to be too impulsive in personal commitments, leading to difficulties when the individual realizes the need to withdraw or separate. Care has to be taken that the initial self-projected attraction to a person is not seen as the totality of that other person’s nature. Positive aspects between the Moon or Neptune to Venus may help to modify some of these characteristics.

Mars in Aries: This is Mars’ own sign and thus, he is strongest when in Aries. Strong does not necessarily mean morally just or correct. So much depends on an individual’s heart and total orientation to life. Mars in Aries does give the ability to take swift and needed action, cutting through most obstacles with ease. It also gives courage and potency (unless afflicted by the Moon or Saturn). Yet when mishandled it creates a selfish sexual nature as well as a willful drive that can be overpowering and too aggressive.

Jupiter in Aries: One’s philosophical journey through life is a personal adventure. This is a person who has to discover for herself “the meaning of life.” If she is born into a strongly religious family and she comes to her own conclusions that she believes in what her background tells her is the truth, she will be a strong campaigner for that religion or belief system. If she disagrees, she will travel far distances either on land and/or in her heart to determine those truths by which she can live and prosper.

Saturn in Aries: We all have personal boundaries and we all have laws to which we must adhere. These attributes are parts of the function that Saturn serves in the natal chart. A person with Saturn in Aries has to make up his own laws as he goes along; the laws of society and his immediate environment mean nothing unless he agrees with them. His boundaries are based on his immediate desires and sense of personal security. He may thus shut down immediately when faced with certain situations or be more open in others. But one way or the other, he is his own gatekeeper, letting people (and himself) in and out on the whim of personal impulse.

Uranus in Aries: The last time Uranus was in this sign was from 1927 to 1934. The next transit will be from 2010 to 2018. Uranus is known as the “Father of Archetypes” as it is his influence that helps us to individuate our own nature and be a person in our own right. Uranus in Aries totally emphasizes this concept and people who have this position in their natal chart tend to be who they are no matter what social opposition may oppose them. When immature, this is someone who rebels to maintain their individual position and point of view even if they are totally wrong and out of sync within the social collective in which they life. When soul-centered, this is someone who is an inventive innovator of the first rank. This individual will stand out as the embodiment for the freedom of the creative Spirit in all of us.

Neptune in Aries: The last time Neptune was in this sign was in the middle of the 19th century during the US Civil War. The next time it transits Aries will be from 2025 to 2039. On the personality level, this combination emphasizes the devotional aspect of humanity, sometimes to a point when wars are fought based on religious and spiritual beliefs. An individual with this placement will go to very far lengths of personal self-sacrifice to promote and protect his ideals, whether they are real or false. If the person is soul-centered and thus emotionally mature, Neptune in Aries will stimulate that individual’s ability to personify and communicate profound spiritual truths and thus be a voice for the good of all humanity.

Pluto in Aries: The last time Pluto was in this sign was during the second quarter of the 19th century. The next time it transits Aries will not be until the year 2064. Obviously both these period are so far from our own that all the astrologer can do is to speculate on the nature and personality of people with this placement. So let me look a bit into the future….This will be a generation powerful pioneers, people who will be destroying old ideas and social patterns. On the personality level, Pluto in Aries can give rise to men and women who are too willful, seeking to take power into their own hands for their own purposes and who destroy themselves in the process. On the level of the soul and from the standpoint of esoteric astrology, this is an amazingly powerful First Ray planet/sign combination, one that will inspire the spiritually mature to express the dynamic force of the Will-to-Good.