Just a week prior, on September 8, Venus leaves Libra for Scorpio. Mars follows her lead on September 14 when he gets more serious and intense in Scorpio. Mars is the planet of action, energy and movement. He represents our physical drives, aggression, passions, anger, self-assertion, confidence, and the motivation behind our efforts.

In Libra, Mars is fair-minded and accommodating, but can be bossy and indecisive. In Scorpio, Mars is at home since he jointly governs the sign of Scorpio with the dwarf planet, Pluto. At best, Mars in Scorpio is passionate, intense, devoted, enjoys challenges/competition, and has an impressively keen intuitive sense. At worst, obsessive, distrustful, destructive, unforgiving and fearful.

While Mars is in Scorpio, actions are motivated by getting to the source of problems and to deal with issues at the root instead of simply finding solutions to the symptoms ... driven to keep digging and uncovering until all that's left is the truth which can be harsh and difficult to accept. Actions or decisions taken after becoming aware are what matters -- will actions help you move forward or crush you in the weight of the realities/truths of your situation? Get your mojo back with Mars in Scorpio.

In Scorpio, Mars is determined, and if one allows the self to awareness and trust of their own intuitive ability, actions can yield results that exceed what was expected. Intent plays an equally great role. Focus and actions rooted in love and light opens the path to empowerment. However, the opposite is also true with focus and actions that are rooted in hate or desperation which could result in loathing (the self or others), the need to control (others or situations), or even violence (to the self or toward others).

Allow Mars in Scorpio to help you discover or rediscover your own self-power and what it feels like to make empowered decisions/actions. If there is fear, be challenged to improve without taking from another. If there is doubt, seek truth for its own sake without being righteous. If there is hate, choose love -- begin with the self and realize how destructive to happiness and life hate can be. What we resist, persists. But energy flows, where our attention goes. So, focus on the desired outcome and move towards it with love and light to help guide your way.

On a separate note, another big celestial event occurs on tthe day Mars begins his transit in Scorpio -- Pluto, who has been retrograde since April 7, stations and prepares for direct motion.

Mars enters Scorpio on September 8 at 3:38 p.m. PST (6:38 p.m. EST) and will stay through October 27 PST (October 28 EST). While in Scorpio, Mars will align with the following celestial bodies (all dates reflect North America Pacific time zone; allow +/-2 days for life span of influence):

• September 18 ~ Mars sextile Pluto. Need for actions to be meaningful. Analyzing situations deeply before taking action. Determination. Also today, Jupiter conjunct Uranus in Pisces.
• October 3 ~ Mars conjunct Venus. How deep is your love? Intense connections. Relationships deepen. Also today, Mercury joins the Sun and Saturn in Libra.
• October 20 ~ Mars trine Jupiter-rx. Opportunities. Overall optimism. Luck. Make strides toward future goals, whether their short term or longer term goals. Also today, Mercury joins Mars and a retrograde-Venus in Scorpio.
• October 22 ~ Mars square Neptune-rx and Chiron-rx. Chance for healing, whether it's the self or helping others. Release. Let go. Have faith. Also today, Full Moon in Aries at 6:37 p.m. PST / 9:37 p.m. EST, which is the second full moon in Aries this year; the first occurrence was on September 23.
• October 24 ~ Mars trine Uranus-rx. Surprises. Expect the unexpected. In water signs, listen to your intuitive self. You might just be surprised :)

How might this Mars transit influence your chart? Look to the natal house/s ruled by Scorpio. Match the sign with the house cusp/s on your birth chart. Use the list of zodiac signs below to identify the Scorpio zodiac sign on your birth chart then click here for an explanation of Mars transiting those houses.


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For those without a birth chart, you may use your Sun sign or Rising/Ascendant sign, if you know it. Look for your Sun and Rising signs below then click here for an explanation of Mars transiting those houses.

• Aries-Sun or Aries Rising ~ 8th House
• Taurus-Sun or Taurus Rising ~ 7th House
• Gemini-Sun or Gemini-Rising ~ 6th House
• Cancer-Sun or Cancer-Rising ~ 5th House
• Leo-Sun or Leo-Rising ~ 4th House
• Virgo-Sun or Virgo-Rising ~ 3rd House
• Libra-Sun or Libra-Rising ~ 2nd House
• Scorpio-Sun or Scorpio-Rising ~ 1st House
• Sagittarius-Sun or Sagittarius-Rising ~ 12th House
• Capricorn-Sun or Capricorn-Rising ~ 11th House
• Aquarius-Sun or Aquarius-Rising ~ 10th House
• Pisces-Sun or Pisces-Rising ~ 9th House

Alternatively, you may cast your own birth chart for use as reference -- birth date, time, and place required.

Are you celebrating a birthday? Schedule a session for a Solar Return (birthdays) or 3-Chart Package reading (detailed natal & overall outlook for the next 12 months). Or you might want to consider giving a loved one the gift of insight.

Have a question or need a quote for a more customized reading, ask me here. Or feel free to cruise on over to the AstroCreeps and TarotFreaks Forum* to start or join a discussion.

What significance do planets, signs, and houses have in astrology? Planets have the function, the job to do. The style/manner they will use get that job done is defined by the zodiac sign they occupy. Where in our life the job gets done is determined by the house the planet occupies/transits. So, when Mars (aggression) is in Aries (bold), he is more assertive than when he is in Cancer (sensitive). When traveling through the 10th house (professional life), he may bring his confidence and motivation in matters relating to our career. While in the 11th house (friendships), we may be more inclined to having our social calendar packed with activities. Having the foresight for what may be coming up or receiving confirmation on what may be happening now are ways astrology can be beneficial ... as above, so below.

Related articles:

• Transiting Mars in Natal Houses
• Solar Returns Explained ~ your personal year
• Venus in Scorpio ~ September 8 to November 7, 2010
• Pluto Direct ~ September 14, 2010
• Jupiter Conjunct Uranus in Pisces ~ September 18, 2010
• Mercury in Libra ~ October 3 to 20, 2010
• Mercury in Scorpio ~ October 20 to November 8, 2010

*Click here to learn more about the AstroCreeps and TarotFreaks Forum.

"Ancient Layered Hills on Mars" -- image credit and copyright to Malin Space Science Systems, MOC, MGS, JPL, NASA.