According to the Western Hermetic tradition, which is my spiritual path, we harbor the archetypal qualities of each planet within us.

So, for example, Mars, the heavenly body in the sky, is one visible manifestation of an archetype that permeates the Great Everywhereness, including the inside of human beings.

What is the Mars archetype? Richard Tarnas, one of the world's best astrologers, describes it like this:

"Mars represents the principle of energetic force. It symbolizes that part of the psyche which impels us to act, to assert ourselves, to struggle, to press forward and against, to be courageous and vigorous, to be competitive or combative."

So the rocky planet Mars doesn't beam out vibes that manipulate our behavior. It doesn't twist and tweak us with gravitational poll. But we can analyze its movements to speculate on how the Mars archetype may be at work at any particular time and in any particular culture or person.

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What's your relationship with anger and aggression and forceful energy? Are you skilled at harnessing those qualities to serve constructive goals?

Do you make them work for you in your efforts to change situations that need changing? Have you developed proficiency in your ability to fight fairly and wisely for the world you want to live in?

I hope so! The questions I just posed provide a reliable frame for evaluating your use of what astrology regards as the power of Mars: the fierce urge to defend and protect what you love; the strong-willed intention to create excellence and truth and justice and beauty; the determination to work tirelessly in behalf of your noble and inspiring desires.

I bless your efforts to craft your share of the Mars force with grace and intelligence. I pray that you will be guided by your Higher Self and Guardian Angel to find elegant and effective ways to express this crucial aspect of your life force.