What We Battle
on the Mars-Pluto opposition
Election Day shouldn’t be a Tuesday, which is Mars’ day.
Thursday probably would have been better - have the day be ruled over by a grand, spacious diety - let it be a diplomatic and philosophical affair, a true conversation, with big perspectives and high ideals. Monday could have been great - perhaps we would have recognized the power of feminine wisdom and already had a female president. Friday (Venus’s Day) or Wednesday (Mercury’s Day) would have been better than Tuesday, too, if we couldn’t have had it on Saturn’s day or the Sun’s day.
Tuesday exalts the god of war, of contest, of strife, of aggression. It’s a day that very much echoes the two-party system, it’s brutal exclusion of other perspectives, creation of magnetic poles, and focus on the opponent’s weak spots and inciting rage around wedge issues.
This Tuesday is the epitome of a two-sided contest, with Mars and Pluto opposing each other. These are two of the more gnarly, unruly astrological energies, especially when they are in hard aspect with one another.
The only thing that can make it worse is the presence of Saturn, which happened during the start of the Covid lockdowns, alongside Jupiter. At that moment, the four planets were all conjunct - but here, the opposition, the 180-degree aspect, is center stage - it’s an energy that pits these two forces against one another. It’s an energy of polarization that is inflamed by intense fear and disproportionate psychological projections, as if each party sees itself combatting an otherworldly evil represented by Pluto.
Pluto can be hypnotizing but so hard to grasp and pin down. This is magnified by our screens and the slippery scrolling we can get sucked into, feeding who-knows-what otherworldly behemoth with our attention. All too often, this distracts our Mars from the tasks that are actually within our capacity to affect - the duties and responsibilities within our sphere of influence.
Whichever way you cut it, yesterday’s Scorpio New Moon is ruled by this Mars-Pluto opposition. Mars is the traditional ruler of Scorpio, and Pluto has been given contemporary rulership. Here, there’s an encouragement toward renewal in wielding this Martial force, dealing with whatever excites panic, fear, worry, stress, or overwhelm - within your control to combat, assuage, or resolve. We should be aiming toward a feeling of catharsis or resolution and feeling empowered and proud of ourselves. Aim for a breakthrough, to find depths of passion and energy you haven’t experienced recently.
Scorpio’s transformation or metamorphosis can sometimes feel like a cleansing or a release, but it can also be the result of intense desire, obsessive focus, or fascination, as if one is magnetized toward something. Thus, one of the ways we can positively work with this New Moon energy is to get really clear on where our stinger wants to strike, to cultivate focus. Lately, I’ve been appreciating the visual aspect of that - the power of gazing at a game plan, a sigil, an image of what you want to become, or a candle. Especially with Mars in Cancer, this focus can be borne from self-protection - simply establishing safety and protecting that which is valuable. But with Mars moving into Leo on Sunday, there’s also a more valiant natural progression beyond the basics toward something more fiery, triumphant, and fun.
Because Mars is slowing down to station retrograde, this Mars-Pluto opposition will be quite sustained - it will be present within a 5-degree orb through the first couple of weeks of the new year, and then we’ll have another quick pass through of it in Mid-April. Thus, there’s something of a sustained concentration that will be necessary over the next couple of months, which is really just beginning - and it might be good to clarify your game plan as to how to appropriately navigate that, both in dealing with the potential overwhelm or stress that Pluto can bring and in exercising Mars’ forcefulness toward a directed aim. This toolkit on setting goals might be a helpful resource.
There’s no guarantee that Mars will successfully deal with Pluto. Pluto, a much slower-moving planet than Mars, threatens to overwhelm and consume Mars like a black hole of negativity. And yet, it’s rare for planets to make such a sustained aspect to Pluto like this. It speaks about the potential for a deep resolution of certain subjects, especially through vigorous engagement. At his best, Pluto ushers us through the seasons of our lives, providing an opportunity for metamorphosis. Sometimes, this happens in a negative sense, with some part of us becoming outworn or having a traumatic fall from grace, as if we’re abducted or snacked on by some greater force. Mars will certainly be transformed through the coming months - and we’d do well to steer that in the positive direction. Depending on where Mars and Pluto are falling in your chart, this metamorphosis could apply to much more. As always, please let me know if you’d like to explore that with me.
Warmth,
Charlie