In ancient times of Roman domination, astrology was being taken a step further than the Greeks. Many of the Greek gods, in Astronomy and Astrology are the same gods in principal that the Romans idolized and paid homage to, except ‘the names were changed to protect the innocent’. Actually, they weren’t renamed for that reason, but because ‘when in Rome, do as the Roman’s do’ and Roman names sounded better, Enough foolishness; they were renamed because they didn’t care to have THEIR astrology associated with what the Greeks discovered and did with Astrology.

The Roman’s Astrology associated Aries, the first sign of the zodiac with ‘the self’ and the self was Roman, the mighty Roman soldier. War-like, full of energy, and ready to do battle with anyone for who ever happened to be the Roman emperor at that time. In fact, the glyph or symbol of Mars looks much like a shield and a sword behind it pointing up to the your right! Since Aries (and Scorpio) was ruled by Mars, both the sign Aries and Mars, bring to mind a soldier. It is very apt to think that way, but a Martian may just as well resemble a hockey player or a fighter, or even a doctor. A ‘fighting spirit’ is often characterized as a Martian quality. Sports figures are Martian, but actually sports is a Sagittarian thing, ruled by adventuresome Jupiter (long before sports became a business, it was adventuresome and risk taking…especially for those who received the Emperor’s ‘thumbs down’ signal at the local Coliseum!).

Now, lets look at a man’s chart. I am going to use my own, because with an Aries Signature, I feel very qualified as a Martian Man, but am, in no way, shape or form, a ‘perfect’ one. Thru my positive traits and my negative ones, I can explain how Mars works in my chart, and life. One in eleven natal charts indicate a ‘signature’; where each and every point has a final dispositor that is the same. In my chart, every planet and asteroid comes back to Mars.

My Mars happens to be located at 12 Scorpio and while living in Sarasota it is in the 12^th house. This is not a great place to have your ruler, but since Mars is the ruler of a water sign (in Scorpio), the watery Piscean house is not a foreign place for Mars. While living in Illinois, Mars was conjunct my Scorpio Ascendant at 13 Scorpio. I was constantly working out; riding my bike, weight-training, running, playing hockey or exercising. I did most of these sports in solitude (even as a goaltender in hockey, a very lonely position), with the sign of Scorpio is very private and secretive. While doing weights, exercising, or running, I was the most happy when I was doing it alone.

Taking Mars off the Ascendant for me, in my move to Florida, mellowed me out, made me somewhat less disagreeable (my father will dispute this) and make me do most of my fighting with others in a less physical vein (and made my being silent) better for everyone (except maybe me). Mars happens to be opposed to my Sun, which is in the 6^th house. As in Illinois, I seem to find that my sense of identity is constantly being challenged by the ignorant hordes that surround me. This aspect insinuates that as a young child parent figures opposed me and I fought back, which is partly true. When I sensed that my parents were right about something, I listened and obeyed. When my parents seemed to be trying to thwart me, to benefit themselves or make things easier on them, I normally rebelled in one way or another, if talking (bargaining or arguing) didn’t work. Now as an adult, the battle continues with other authority figures (local and national government and religious leaders, the people running the cable TV, my doctors, etc; no one escapes my wrath). I have needed to learn the difference between assertion and aggression, have done so and live somewhat more happily for doing so.

My Mars is inconjunct Mercury, which ‘aids’ or causes my argumentative nature. It also means that I either have so many ideas that I don't know where to start or I have so many plans in the pipeline that I scatter my energies. I have tried to make lists (organization, Sun in the 6^th) to aid in making priorities so that my life is more structured and efficient.

With my Mars forming a tight trine to Uranus, I have been able to maintain a high energy level that makes it easier for me to succeed in the many areas I have entered. This aspect aids me by helping me be enthusiastic and giving me an unrelenting drive to success and perfection (Sun in the 6^th). Actually, Mars trine Uranus relates to having ‘quick reflexes’, which I used to be a many time all-star goaltender in my area of IL! Much of what I do is by myself and unseen to others (Mars in the 12^th) but while in Illinois, I did seem to radiate toward being in the ‘limelight’ thru my sports, dating, road racing (running races), because of Mars’ positioning itself on the Ascendant and the cusp of the first, and very outgoing, yet personable house.

In relation to women, or love, it seems that the Neptune / Venus opposition proved true in the fact that the ‘perfect’ or even ‘workable’ or ‘lasting’ relationship was doomed from the start; searching for the ‘unattainable’ (Neptune) woman. Could I have expected a woman to be more than humanly possible within a relationship? Possibly, but more likely was that I was ‘blind’ or too accepting of women, and easily ‘fooled’ (Neptune) or misled! While Mercury is eight degrees and weakly opposed to Neptune, this aspect will bear out in ‘only hearing what you want to hear’ from others, often truth or consequences!

While my Mars forms a sextile to Chiron, enabling me an opportunity and energy to be an empathetic and powerful leader of the downtrodden people of the world, possibly thru my astrology or thru my artistic endevors, Mars’ square to Juno, simply points to the fact that close relationships would be ‘difficult’ at best. Taking the extra step in trying to get along with people who I feel are not truthful with me, has been a practically impossible step to take.