Mars is a planet of extremes. On one hand it represents violence, war, death, and the most shocking and traumatic human experiences. But on the other, it represents our highest spiritual capacities: renunciation, rigor, prayer, knowledge, and embodied philosophy. Both aspects of the planet become more potent when it is exalted — as it is currently. I’m focusing this newsletter on the ramifications of Mars Exalted — the how’s, why’s and when’s — along with some sign-by-sign suggestions for how to navigate them.
Before I delve into some of the theory involved, below are some general thoughts on aligning with this period of Mars Exaltation, which is currently very intense, and lasts until February 23rd. These are for all signs. As I’ll discuss later in more detail, the blessing of Mars is that, though it’s harsh, it also gives us the opportunity to completely change the narrative. Exalted Mars is a process — and we are in control! (For the sign-by-sign capsules, please scroll down to the end of the newsletter.)
1) Be Brave. Mars Exalted is fearless. If there is something you have been procrastinating or too nervous to do, this is the time! Mars rules physical strength, but it also rules nerve. As my teacher says, the winner of the battle is not always the strongest, it’s the one with the most nerve. If you start something now, the birth chart for that thing will have an exalted Mars — and will be very hard to stop.
2) Slow Down. I know this sounds contradictory to the above, and I know it’s still the beginning of the year and we all want to hit the ground running, but we are also all probably already moving faster than we think we are. Exalted Mars is quick and brash — impulsive or rushed decisions might be happening under the direction of its more difficult energies (see the “Nomenclature” section below on “Mangal” and “Kuja”), and could lead to conflicts or problems. I’m not saying don’t do things — just game them out carefully first if you can.
3) Commit or Recommit to Something. Similar to #1, Mars is very disciplined. It loves repetition and ardor. If there is something — a workout regimen, a diet, a work strategy, a creative project, a relationship — that will only work if you commit fully to it and do it on a regular basis, this is a great time to take the fiery plunge! Again, if we make a chart for this commitment (or recommitment), it will have Mars Exalted and have a great chance of succeeding.
4) Choose Peace. During this period we will all, in some area of our life, be presented with a choice: either to follow a path of power and force, or to take a “high road” of calm and compassion. During Mars Exalted conflicts can quickly and exponentially escalate, so it is definitely recommended to take — or at least carefully consider — the path of chill. If force is necessary, it must be used with extreme care: less is definitely more.
5) Meditate, Pray, or Practice Something Grounding. Exalted Mars supports, even rewards, these things a great deal. I have been surprised at how quickly I settle down and drop in when I sit down on my meditation cushion, and I don’t think I’m an exception. Mars represents “Bhu Loka”, the earth, so is actually quite grounded, which is slightly counter-intuitive, but real. Remember Mars can be harsh, but Exalted Mars gives us the opportunity to soften and to change. We have agency! (More on this later as well.)
6) Keep an eye out for the color red, the number 9, and triangles (particularly red ones!). Red is the color of Mars — as well as the Republican party and the president’s tie (more on him later). It can also represent the more enlightened aspects of Mars as discussed in this great article about red-colored protest knitting in Minneapolis. Alex Honnold wore a bright red shirt as he scaled that huge building. The image of him clinging to a massive, smooth dragon, and somehow moving over it, strikes me as a great image for Mars — he gives us bravery and the ability to slay our demons!
Triangles are related to Agni (fire) and the shape is invoked by Mars. Just as Mars became exalted, RFK Jr. released his new food triangle, prioritizing red meat which is also ruled by Mars. Whether or not it’s good for humans is debatable, but this new triangle will surely result in the death of more animals. So Mars is there, in plain sight.
7) Wear a peacock feather for protection! Or put one on your altar. They sell them on eBay. (More on this later as well!)
Mars has two main names in Sanskrit and they are very telling. “Kuja” means “bad birth” or “curse” and is related to the most negative, terrifying, fire-spewing aspects of Mars. “Kuja dosha” is the imbalance that this causes in humans (and one of the first things we are taught to locate in people’s charts): aggressive, self-centered actions/reactions, expressed particularly in relationships.
The other name “Mangal” comes from “mangala” which means “becomes auspicious”. It’s here that things get interesting. The gift of Mars is that at the same time as triggering our basest, most animalistic, instincts, it also presents a pathway for moving past them. This pathway is about devotion and spiritual discipline. The destructive fire that Mars can create is transmuted into “tapas”: ardor, or spiritual fire. If this path is followed, it is said, “Kuja dosha” is destroyed and Mars becomes our greatest protector — the General of the Gods, and the natural “security system” of the human body. The amazing thing is that Mars offers us the choice.
The protective, Mangal-manifestation of Mars is symbolized, in Vedic traditions, by the peacock feather. Mangal is the lord of the peacock, and is said to use one as its “vahana”, or vehicle. Peacocks, famously, are one of the only animals able to hunt snakes. The God Krishna wears a peacock feather on his head and is known for his ability to vanquish brutal enemies through pure devotion (see the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana, etc!). Also, as I mentioned, they sell them on eBay!
Capricorn is the “graveyard” of the zodiac, so it is unsurprising that “Kuja” would become exalted here. As he wanders around the burial grounds, he’s comfortable with all the death and destruction he has created, and empowered to create more.
But what about “Mangal … becoming auspicious”? Again the paradox arises, because Mars exalted is also thought to give rise to the deepest knowledge. Indeed, as my teacher says, most great philosophy is concerned with the meaning of death. For the Greeks (Plato/Socrates), it was philosophy itself that could help us detach from the suffering of death. Similarly in the East, so much philosophy is connected to the “laws” of karma and rebirth — i.e. how to frame the meaning of our lives in the context of our own mortality, and again, how to detach from it. All of this is fully and unflinchingly alive while Mangal is in Capricorn. It is said that exalted Mangal will honor learned people and respect teachers. The problem is that exalted Kuja can also honor despots.
Luckily we have a choice. Whom do we invoke, Kuja or Mangal?
Mars first entered sidereal Capricorn, on January 15th, the day of the first ICE killing in Minneapolis — a Venezuelan man — and the first day of major protests in that city. The images from Minneapolis could not be more Martian. Heavily armed agents, with only their eyes visible, carrying out acts of brutal force; and a huge amount of anger (also Mars) from the population. We have also seen mass protests (and death) in Iran; military actions in the Caribbean and Persian Gulf (Venezuela, Iran); even remote and placid Greenland, along with the entire NATO alliance, are being threatened. So much of this is connected with our president who, in his natal chart, has Mars rising in his ascendant, and is, more clearly than ever, on a power trip. I don’t want to spend too long on this, but since we are discussing Mars, it’s (unfortunately) just impossible to ignore.
Mars rules Trump’s 9th house of Dharma, so the fact that it’s in his ascendant suggests that he very much sees “the Martial Path” as his calling, as the way to manifest the “kingly” promise of his Leo ascendant (Leo is ruled by Sun, the King). The 9th house is also related to father, so Mars also carries the energy of Trump’s father Fred who reportedly frequently admonished Donald with the mantra “You are a killer … you are a king … you are a killer … you are a king.” (This is reported by journalist and biographer Harry Hurt III in his 1993 biography Lost Tycoon, The Many Lives of Donald J Trump).
Does this mean that Trump will take further military action during Mars Exalted? Very possibly - and I believe this will take place around the middle of the month (more on this timeline below).
But that’s the Kuja angle — what about Mangal? In Trump’s chart Capricorn is in the 6th house, of Enemy. This is where Mangal is currently exalted which suggests that Trump’s enemies are becoming extremely powerful. Indeed, especially with the events in Minneapolis, it seems that the disgust and disapproval of his tactics and values have crossed over to a much more general, not necessarily liberal, public. I believe that when we look back at this moment it will be seen as a turning point — as Kuja shifts to Mangal, Trump’s power will begin to recede. I think he already senses this, and will of course double down on the violence, the hatred and the warlike actions. But the collective consciousness is shifting, and exalted Mangal is bringing much-needed spiritual clarity to bear. This is just not us.
Additionally the 6th is the house of disease and Mars Exalted here suggests that there might be something very wrong with our President’s health, and that it could manifest (or is manifesting) during this period — or right after Mars loses exaltation, and he is more vulnerable. See below for timing!
Mars first entered sidereal Capricorn, the sign of its exaltation “dignity”, on January 15th (the day the Minneapolis protests started, as mentioned above.) But the first couple weeks of Mars’ exaltation transit were complicated by a cluster of other planets (Venus, Sun, Moon and Mercury) surrounding and passing over it. It wasn’t until this week that the last of these, Sun, got far enough away from Mars to let it express itself purely on its own terms. Following are some days of change to keep an eye on:
February 1 (today!): Full moon in Ashlesha Nakshatra. This isn’t specifically to do with Exalted Mars, though he is throwing a major aspect on the Moon. This is a strange Nakshatra symbolized by a coiled snake. Snakes don’t like to be poked and will likely retreat/take shelter under Mars’ fierce gaze — a quiet start to an otherwise loud month. I do expect investors to lose some nerve and the market will make a significant retreat tomorrow. As for the snakes, they will likely wait till the new moon/solar eclipse to emerge …
February 12: Sun, who has been in Capricorn as well, transits out of the sign, leaving Mars there alone. Sun represents government oversight, so when this happens, expect unsupervised Mars to lash out somehow.
February 16/17: This is a big day. Mars moves out of Shravana Nakshatra (ruled by Moon) and into Dhanistha Nakshatra which is ruled by Mars itself. Watery Shravana nakshatra has (believe it or not) helped cool Mars down, but this will change as it moves into more fiery Dhanistha. To make matters more complicated, on this same day, Mars becomes conjunct with the new moon, which — even more complicated! — becomes involved in a solar eclipse on February 17th! All this will create a very unstable few days actually, particularly the 15th, 16th and 17th. (I will try to post a note during this time.) Please be very careful. Mars likes to “act first and think later” and with the new moon/solar eclipse we might not have the resources to mitigate these actions, or could become overwhelmed. It could take a few days to figure out what’s going on, and by then it might be too late. I would expect some disturbing, violent news around this time. If there were a time this month that bombs could be thrown, this is it. Please stay calm and vigilant … put on your peacock feather … and pray.
February 20: Mars fully exalted at 28º Capricorn. This means both Kuja and Mangal will be at full power. Kuja’s destructive powers might be on display - but remember, invoking Mangal can actively disarm it.
February 23: Mars leaves Capricorn and abruptly loses its exaltation three days after being fully exalted — typical, sudden Martian behavior. It joins Sun, Rahu, Venus and Mercury all in Aquarius (more about this next month). What’s important is that all the things that Exalted Mars has been protecting will suddenly be left unprotected. I would expect some news about Trump’s health after this point, as well a significant pullback in the markets. To see how this sudden de-exaltation might affect your chart, please see some short sign-by-sign readings below.
With regard to the below, if you know your Vedic ascendant, I would suggest focusing on that sign. If not, focus on the sign where your Vedic moon is. If you don’t know that, then I am also including Vedic “sun signs” by date. These are not, strictly speaking, part of traditional Vedic Astro, but there will be some valuable Martian potentialities held for each.
Aries (Apr 14 – May 14)
Mars rules your sign so you will definitely feel the effects of its exaltation which takes place in your 10th house of career. This means that you should see some good forward motion with your work and finances, and your reputation should improve and grow. This is a great time to make career-related moves and commitments, but be careful of being overly aggressive, this could damage relationships and come back to haunt you. More importantly, this is not necessary right now: you should be able to cruise through obstacles (especially professional) without much effort, especially if you do some effective visualization and/or prayer.
Taurus (May 15 – Jun 14)
Mars is exalted in your 9th house, which should bring good luck and see you stepping up your interest in (or practice of) spiritual matters. Increased spiritual commitments will also bring increased luck! This transit is also very supportive of education or professional education, and if you have been thinking of doing something like this, now is a great time to take the plunge. If you have any legal issues pending, this Mars exaltation should help you resolve them. It is also a good time for travel. Please be careful of solipsism or self-centeredness, make sure to listen to others and not to present as knowing all the answers.
Gemini (Jun 15 – Jul 15)
Exalted Mars is in your 8th house of transformation which means that anything you do to change your physical appearance or spiritual life will be greatly supported. It’s a great time to start a new physical practice, whether it’s a sport or something gentler like yoga or Tai Chi. Things that previously frightened you no longer will — and if you practice gratitude for this it will continue happening. The 8th house can sometimes be hard to see, so you must be extra attentive to how you are affecting others — you may be able to hurt or insult people and not even realize you are doing so. Patience is important to practice during this transit, both with others and yourself.
Cancer (Jul 16 – Aug 16)
Exalted Mars is transiting your 7th house of partnership. Although Mars can help to protect your partnership/s, it is also possible that either a partner, or you, could act harshly or inconsiderately. A blame-game could ensue. If this happens please de-escalate and work through the conflict as quickly, and as compassionately, as possible. This will be supported — there is no reason to let it go too far. A new and important business partner could enter your life, and you should have good luck making new connections, and marketing yourself, at this time — especially if you commit. You will have a lot of energy, but make sure to bring it down to earth, and quietly meditate or pray, on a regular basis.
Leo (Aug 17 – Sep 16)
Exalted Mars is transiting your 6th house which should protect you from the more negative things that this house represents: enemies and disease in particular. Look out for pests and parasites! People who tried to block you should, for one reason or another, let you through; and if there is some kind of medical treatment or examination that you have been considering, now is a great time to do it. In terms of career, this is a good time to be more assertive and independent — as long as it means you are working more, not less! This hard work won’t last forever, but should bring good luck and have long-lasting positive effects. You may be challenged by co-workers, employees or associates in some way — please remember not to react harshly. This is an important time to practice compassion, and you might be surprised by how available it is to you, and how much it means to the people in your life.
Virgo (Sep 17 – Oct 16)
Exalted Mars is transiting your 5th house of protection. This is a great place to have a powerful, protective Mars and you should feel secure and empowered during this time. Take advantage of this to make professional and personal changes that you might have procrastinated or avoided, in particular in relation to students, children, collaborators, or people dependent on you. If some kind of power struggle develops, please de-escalate and work through the conflict as quickly, and as compassionately, as possible. Building momentum on creative projects and romantic partnerships, either new or existing, are well supported during this time as well.
Libra (Oct 17 – Nov 15)
When Mars transits Capricorn, it will be passing through your fourth house, so energy devoted to your home, vehicle, workplace, website or mom will be extremely well supported. If there are conflicts in any of these areas, it could be a Mars overload which you should take swift, compassionate action to remedy — remember the solution is right in front of you. This very volatile transit is happening in your heart chakra, so you might feel oddly unsettled or over-tired. Try calming, grounding practices — you might be surprised at how available they are to you, and how much good they will do. Be careful, also, with your marriage or romantic partnership this month.
Scorpio (Nov 16 – Dec 15)
Mars rules Scorpio, so you will definitely be aware of this exaltation which takes place in your 3rd house, which I like to think of as the house of free will. This will give you a lot of courage and make it a great time to commit to something connected with self-expression: a creative project, a relationship, an exercise regimen. The 3rd house rules battles, and the exalted mars could trigger this, so please keep things as low-key and non-confrontational as possible. If you find yourself feeling threatened or provoked, slow down and chill out. Know that there is little chance that you will not get a lot of work done — creative or otherwise — during this transit. So, if at all possible, try to relax.
Sagittarius (Dec 16 – Jan 13)
Exalted Mars will be in your second house of cash which should, at a minimum, be well protected, and, at best, result in profit of some kind. This is a great time to make moves with regard to your finances — whether it is a new venture, a refinement of an older venture, or a reorganization of one’s financial foundations. This is one of the more generally protective transits for you which means that when it ends, on February 23rd, you might be left unprotected in some way — please be vigilant of this. Also there may be a sense of invincibility for Sagittarius people during this transit. Be careful, especially with close friends and relatives, remember to use compassion and care in your communications with them, and in general.
Capricorn (Jan 14 – Feb 12)
Exalted Mars will be crossing your sign during this transit and it should be a very empowered, protected time for you. You may naturally find yourself taking charge, making decisions, and people will look to you for support. There is a chance that, by being so empowered, you might in some way hurt or threaten others without even realizing it. Be careful of this and don’t forget to practice compassion and empathy. This transit also protects real estate and decisions made around the home. The protective qualities of this transit will end, or change, around February 23rd, so be mindful of this. You might feel exposed in some way around this time, but it should not last long.
Aquarius (Feb 13 – Mar 13)
Mars is transiting your 12th house so long distance travels will be very much supported and protected. The 12th house is an intensely spiritual place, so this is a great time to commit or recommit to some kind of meditative, spiritual or physical exercise regimen. You should be having a lot of big, enlightened ideas — enjoy them! Write them down! Because this transit protects you from losses, you might be able to increase your income during this time, especially if whatever you are doing is connected to travel. Adventure calls!
Pisces (Mar 14 – Apr 13)
Exalted Mars will be transiting your 11th house of gains making it a great time to finally finish projects, or commit to goals that you may have procrastinated or avoided for some reason. Now is the time! Finances are also well supported during this time and it is an excellent moment to make an investment or some financial move related to long term goals or plans. It should also be a social time for you, with community related activities making you quite busy. Be careful not to take any of this for granted and remember to be kind. This type of supportive, successful energy is fairly rare, so it should be taken advantage of — and petty disagreements or insensitivities could mess it up.
I considered putting these small readings behind some kind of Substack paywall, but it doesn’t feel right. Instead I am going to try a “Buy Me a Coffee” model in case anyone feels moved to contribute something!
Also, please think of me for your Vedic Astrology needs! I am running a referral special and have new pricing (ask me about this).
Thanks for reading! I will be chiming in with Notes over the course of the month (and year ahead).
May Mangal be with you!
~JG
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