Big, dumb (refined?) idiots

Wikipedia re: Ares: Ares is the Greek god of war and courage. He is the son of Zeus and Hera. The Greeks were ambivalent toward him. He embodies physical valor necessary for success in war but can also personify sheer brutality and bloodlust.

Basically: Greek-Mars is a big, dumb, violent idiot. He was also 700 feet tall.

Wikipedia re: Mars: In ancient Roman religion and mythology, Mars is the god of war and also an agricultural guardian. The character and dignity of Mars differs in fundamental ways from that of his Greek counterpart, who is often treated with contempt and revulsion in Greek literature.

Basically: Roman-Mars is violent yet refined. Apparently, military campaigns and farming were on similar schedules during the Roman Empire, so Roman-Mars is their cheerleader.

The plus side to having Mars in our charts is that we have the wherewithal to get up and go. Also, Mars is in charge of propagating the species, which is somewhat important. But then there are the downsides.

A few weeks ago, I had a surge of intense focus-mode and wanted to read something dense, so I picked up Erik Larson's Devil in the White City, which you've all no doubt heard of. I'd been given 3 copies over the years, each of which I proceeded to not read, because historical non-fiction is not typically appealing. This time, I finally read it in its entirety. Half of the book is about a serial killer. Appreciating that Larson has a gift for storytelling, I proceeded to read Larson's In the Garden of Beasts, which is about the rise of Nazi Germany, while concurrently watching OJ Simpson: Made in America, because that was the week he died. Believe it or not, this combination of a serial killer, Nazis, OJ, and the racially-charged climate in Los Angeles in the 1990s did nothing for my mental state. What was I thinking? Well, I was thinking that anything was better than academic journal articles, and I was procrastinating. But then I was depressed (and still procrastinating).

But these are each Mars stories, as beatings, wars, serial killing (killing generally), and heck, even the act of building a building is Mars business (Saturn makes the plans for the building, though). Racism isn’t all Mars, for the record, but Mars doesn’t help anything when it’s involved. (Moons and Saturns are the racist ones, including the signs they “rule”: Cancer and Capricorn. No, I did not just call Cancers/Capricorns racist. Both of these planets/signs are concerned with comfort and norms and are prone to dislike things that are "different" and therefore "threatening." Pluto's been transiting Capricorn, so all the racism is disappointing but not surprising, I guess.)

Mars by itself is just a big, dumb idiot that isn’t going to do much. Start mixing Mars with other energies, and you have problems—depending, of course, on how you handle your energy.

So the thing about OJ Simpson is that he had Mars conjunct (next to) a 10th house Gemini north node. If I was just reading the chart without knowing its owner, one of the definitions of Mars conjunct a 10th house Gemini north node is being well-known and respected for Mars things of a Gemini nature. Gemini Mars is quick-thinking, quick-moving, physically adept, and argumentative. Also, let’s not forget the Gemini charm (love it or hate it, it’s real). So being known for running a ball down the field fits the chart perfectly. That Mars was trine Neptune, which is a positive aspect bestowing the ability to run and be charming almost effortlessly, though probably not always at the same time. During his football career he was living out that chart potential really successfully. I only became aware of OJ in the ‘90s, so I wasn't as aware of his football accomplishments. The documentary was illuminating in that respect, and it was nice to see examples of OJ using Mars energy correctly. The north node is notorious for energizing things, so that Mars was constantly energized and needed productive outlets, which it obviously did not always get.

Anyway, when you’re astrologically conscious and doing something dark like looking at charts of murderers, the first thing you’re looking for is what Mars was doing, both in the birth chart of the murderer and then where it was in the sky, because the answer is “probably setting something off.” The second thing you are looking for is where Pluto was and what it was doing, because while Mars is anger, Pluto is straight-up rage. These are your top two suspects every time. Mars by itself is just a big, dumb idiot, but combine it with some impressive other-planet energy and Mars becomes an idiot with a plan. Feel me?

There was a recent murderer who made the news (this one), and I googled “[Dipshit’s name] date of birth” and the police department’s website with the news release and a list of dates of birth of the deceased popped up, including the murderer. The murderer’s birth chart (no birth time, obviously) had Mars in Taurus opposed by Uranus in Scorpio. This was a “no one saw it coming” situation, except astrology buffs know that Mars-Uranus can be random, precipitous anger of unpredictable concentration. It does not tend to be sustained anger, but if you find yourself in the middle of it, it’s like wandering into a tornado. He also had transiting Pluto conjunct his natal south node, so something came up out of the depths, which Pluto on your south node will do, sometimes. Doesn’t excuse it *at all.* Just provides context. (There’s more, but I’m trying to keep it simple.)

Obviously, this stuff gets real dark real fast. Back to Devil in the White City: the serial killer H. H. Holmes had Mars in Gemini square Neptune in Aries, and he was known for lying about basically everything (as well as being charming!), and seemed to have a fascination with death, which the Neptune part would also help with (as Neptune stuff does tend to be compulsive and Neptune was in Aries--Mars's sign). Serial killers tend to have moon problems, which is an inner wiring issue, and another story for another day.

It’s just a weird coincidence that both OJ and Holmes had Mars in Gemini. Normally I see Mars in Gemini and make fun of it, like "ooooo, what are you going to do, yell at me?" But Mars in any sign is capable of anything with the right provocation if it's mismanaged, the same way any moron with a weapon is dangerous.

You manage Mars by channeling it into action or activity that drains the energy without negatively impacting others. This can be a workout routine or a hobby or devotion to a cause that necessitates effort. It's pretty straightforward. What you don't do is hold in anger, because inward-directed anger has nowhere to go except detrimental places. It gives you a short fuse and it makes you much more prone to doing stuff you'll later regret.