In astrology, Venus represents attraction and Mars represents motion. Where Venus tells you what you are drawn to, Mars tells you how you go after it. Your style of energy, the way you enter a conflict, how you draw your borders, how you make a beginning, all read through Mars.
What Mars Rules in Astrology
Mars is the planet of energy, drive, passion, will and limit. What you set out to start in life, how you behave in a conflict, how you spend your physical capacity, all read through Mars. Sexual desire is also one of the territories Mars rules; while Venus shows the attraction, Mars shows how that attraction is enacted.
In classical medical astrology, Mars rules the muscles and the system of motion. Bodily drive capacity, heat production and inflammatory reactions are Mars's bodily signature.
How to Find Your Mars Sign
Mars completes a full zodiac round about every two years. It stays in each sign for roughly one and a half to two months. Your birth date does not give you Mars directly, because Mars's motion varies year to year. If you know your birth date, you can find it in a table or a birth chart tool.
Mars in the Twelve Signs
Each Mars sign is a different language of motion. Aries Mars (its own sign) is fast, direct, eager; loves the first move. Taurus Mars is slow and steady, hard to start, harder to stop. Gemini Mars works on many fronts, scatters attention but is fast. Cancer Mars fights indirectly, advances through the emotional, not direct. Leo Mars is showy and brave, shines on stage. Virgo Mars works with fine craftsmanship, patient and technical. Libra Mars (in detriment) avoids open conflict, can become passive-aggressive while seeking balance. Scorpio Mars (its classical ruler) is intense, deep, strategic; long-distance energy. Sagittarius Mars likes to leap toward big targets, strong when it has meaning to chase. Capricorn Mars (in exaltation) is patient, structuring, long-term drive; one of the strongest placements. Aquarius Mars is unconventional and freedom-loving, dynamic in the collective. Pisces Mars (weak) moves indirectly and intuitively, avoids direct conflict.
The sign of Mars tells, in one line, how a person sets out to act.
What Mars Says About the Body
In classical medical astrology, Mars rules muscle structure, physical resilience and the energy of drive. In the astrological body map, Mars's planetary layer covers these functions. An imbalanced Mars shows as stagnation in the absence of sport and physical release; in excess, as exhaustion or inflammatory reactions.
Mars is hot and dry, close to the choleric temperament. In your temperament distribution, Mars's place determines whether you tilt toward heat or whether something cools you.
Mars Retrograde
Mars goes retrograde for about 80 days every two years. During this period, Mars-ruled themes are pulled back: unfinished projects come back to the table, conflicts are reviewed, bodily energy dips. It is not ideal for fast moves; it is a good time for collecting old energy.
Like Mercury retrograde, the natural flow during Mars retrograde is finishing the old rather than starting big new things.
Using Mars Healthily
Three practices keep Mars healthy. First, regular physical motion. Mars energy that piles up in the body turns into inflammation or anger. Sport, walking, even intense gardening offer Mars its natural bed. Second, drawing limits. Mars relaxes as it learns to say no; people whose Mars constantly says "yes" carry tiredness. Third, aim. Without a goal, Mars scatters; with a goal, it strengthens. Whether the goal is small or large does not matter; Mars needs a direction to flow into.
Meeting Your Mars
The Sun tells you who you are, the Moon how you heal, your rising sign how you arrive. Venus tells you what you are drawn to, Mars how you pursue it. Read together, these five sketch the motion picture of your personality.
If you know your birth date, you can see your Mars sign in seconds with our free birth chart tool.