Your Mars placement indicates how you execute a plan. By sign and by house it tells us where, how, and with whom you will act with courage and conviction, energy and enthusiasm, impulsiveness and impetuousness, fearlessness and ferociousness.

On December 7th, 2013 Mars moved from Virgo into Libra for an eight month stay. Libra is sign of the Lover, the Peacemaker, the Statesmen, the Counselor, the CEO of Civil Discourse, the Debate Team Captain of Diplomatic Overtures, and the Department Chairman of Smooth Charm. This is the sign most associated with fairness, elegance, romance, and marriage. With the planet of courage in the sign of relationships, people with Mars in Libra are often quite enthusiastic about figuring out how two people can get on the same page, intellectually as much as emotionally. Their relational enthusiasm stems from coming into this life with “a soul desire to learn the art of healthy intimate conflict” astrologers Steven and Jodi Forest tell us. (Source) The challenge with this placement is that “intimate conflicts” are often the Achilles heal of Mars in Libra. According to astrologer Stella Hyde, “Mars in Libra is the Mars placement most likely to be caught with its pants down and in no position to fight.” (Source) Bill Clinton is a Leo with Mars in Libra and a near textbook one at that. (Chart) He trained as a lawyer before moving into politics. He’s known primarily for his life long marriage to Hilary as well as his smooth charm and suave maneuvering. He’s also spent much of his adult life either caught up in intimate conflict or answering for having been caught with his pants down.

It’s probably no coincidence that Clinton’s impeachment trial before Congress for lying about his intimate relationship with Mrs. Lewinsky began on December 19th, 1998 when Mars was transiting through Libra. (Chart) Symbolized by the scales of justice, Libra is associated with the court system. It’s famously the sign of marriage but this means it’s also the sign of divorce. Check the natal chart of any attorney practicing divorce law for longer than 10 years as there is a good chance he or she has Mars in Libra. To illustrate: using its premier date as its date of birth the documentary Divorce Corp, an expose of the marriage-divorce industrial complex, has Mars in Libra. (Chart)

Astrologer Raven Kaldera associates Mars in Libra with the myth of King Arthur. (Source) Reading through Kaldera’s description it is difficult not to notice a number of similarities between Arthur and Bill Clinton, notes added in italics:

Like Arthur, romance is often the Libra warrior’s downfall. Arthur inherited a kingdom torn by religious (political?) differences; the older pagan faith (the Democratic party?) was clashing with the newer, more aggressively spreading Christian religion (the Republican party?) and it was his job to keep the peace. He called himself a good Christian knight but kept a pagan wizard (Al Gore?) by his side as an adviser; he married a Christian woman (Hilary?) but had an affair with a pagan (Monica?). By the end of his reign not only was there no peace, but neither side trusted him . . . (Source)

The Oslo Accords that Clinton brokered between the Israelis and the Palestinians were signed on September 13th, 1993. Not surprisingly, the chart for the Accords has a Mars/Jupiter conjunction at 17/21 degrees Libra. (Chart) On the upside, the famous image of Clinton standing behind Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat as they shook hands embodies much of what is wonderful about Mars in Libra: former warriors who have put down their weapons in order to make peace. The image even has a structural resemblance to the scales of justice that are the symbol for Libra:

While Libra is considered the sign of balanced civility, it is also the sign that can project the image of balanced civility even as hostilities continue to mount behind the scenes. The image of Clinton standing behind Rabin and Arafat as they shook hands was great looking (Libra) at the time but we all know that the peace was, at best, short lived. As a number of informed commentators have pointed out, historians of the future will likely see the event as more photo-op than actual peace deal.

Speaking of photo ops, people Mars in Libra often love photography. Mars indicates what turns a person on so if you’ve got your eye on somebody with this placement make sure they get a glimpse of that recent photo of yourself out at the ballet or opera. If there’s a beautiful person (or two) in the photo with you and a Lexus Rx in the background you’re guaranteed to get a response from Mars in Libra. People with Mars in Libra also tend to be quite photogenic themselves. Both Kate Middleton and Prince William, for instance, have Mars in Libra and you’ve seen how great they look together.

Libra is known as the peacekeeper of the Zodiac but don’t let this fool you into thinking this sign can’t or won’t fight. Astrologer Hazel Dixon Cooper tells us, “Like Dr. Jeykll and Mr. Hyde, the Libra Mars personality can change without warning from harmony-seeking to confrontational. Verbal confrontation excites as much as physical contact.” (Source) Like many people with Mars in Libra, Bill has been known expend so much energy trying to maintain that sense of balance that he eventually just snaps, as he did during this appearance with Fox News reporter Chris Wallace:

Mars in Libra also comes up a lot in the charts of people or events that involve fighting (Mars) between equals (Libra). Mixed Martial Arts superstar Gina Carano, for instance, has Mars in Libra. (Source) Some of the physical fights she’s been in are just as knock down and drag out as the political and legal fights Bill Clinton has found himself in.

Dr. Richard Gatling – inventor of the Gatling gun, the precursor to all modern machine guns – has a Mars/Mercury conjunction in Libra. (Chart) Gatling’s original goal was to design a weapon so horrific that people would come to understand the futility of warfare. This would usher in a new era of peace he thought. Obviously things did not work out as he had hoped.

When you think Mars in Libra think of “a duel” (Mars) between equally matched opposites (Libra) It can be a duel between a politician and a journalist broadcast on television, a duel between two martial artists in a boxing ring, a duel between gun fighters under the blazing sun of the Western frontier or a duel between nation-state super powers out in the icy coldness of outer space. Sputnik, the Russian satellite that set off the decades long “Cold War” between the US and the USSR has a tight conjunction between Sun, Mars, and Jupiter all in the early degrees of Libra. (Chart)

Using its release date as its date of birth, the film Star Trek: Wrath of Khan has Mars at zero degrees Libra. (Natal Chart) The duel between Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Mr. Khan (Ricardo Montalban) portrayed in the film is a great metaphor for how Mars at 0 degrees Libra will often express itself: an absolutely explosive (Zero Point) confrontation (Mars) between equally matched opposites (Libra), both of whom are seeking to reset the balance of power in their own favor. The trailer for the film will give you a great feel for just how confrontational Mars in Libra can be. Take particular note of how the characters played by Shatner and Montalban are engaged in battles so pitched it almost seems like they’re a married couple fighting it out in divorce court:

As far as actual couples fighting their differences out in divorce court, it should be noted that the hit television show Wife Swap has a Mars/Jupiter conjunction at O degrees Libra with the Sun not far behind at 4 degrees Libra. (Chart) If you’ve ever seen the show, or even just clips online, it has Mars in Libra all over it: people from seemingly opposite (Libra) backgrounds fighting (Mars) over balance of power (Libra) issues. Here, for instance, is an episode where a “pirate” family swaps wives with a “hyper-organized” family:

You’ll also find Mars in Libra in the charts of people involved in restoring the balance of power between the genders, races, and classes. Sue Tompkins tells us, “The capacity to fight other people’s battles makes this an excellent placement for the law and for any vocation which involves a drive for reconciliation.” (Source) Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela both have Mars in Libra. The chart for the Amistad slave revolt, later portrayed in the 1997 Stephen Speilberg film Amistad, also has Mars in Libra. (Chart)

For most people reading this article, the current transit of Mars in Libra is going to express itself in Libra’s favorite arena: one-to-one partnerships. Mars indicates the methods we use to solve problems. When in Libra – an air sign – Mars solves problems by clearing the air. Whatever his faults, Clinton’s marriage is not a bad example of how Mars in Libra works. One can only imagine the number of “air-clearing” discussions that he and Hilary have had to last as long as they have through all that they have.

About the Author: Matt Savinar is a California licensed attorney (State Bar #228957), voluntarily inactive as of June 2013. He can be reached for questions, comments, or consults at his contact page.

(Image: Capricorn/Leo Marlene Dietrich in The Shanghai Express available via Amazon.com)

Capricorn is the sign of the Prime Minister, the Authority Figure, the Strategist, the Business Man, the CEO, and the Tycoon. People with their Sun (conscious identity) in this sign will come to be identified with their capacity for organization, long term planning, and hard won material success. Like their animal totem the Mountain Goat, Capricorns ensure their success through taking a strategic, sure-footed, and step-by-step approach to climbing life’s mountains. This is where Capricorns get their famous executive abilities from but also their diabolical tendencies. Actress Jane Badler is a Capricorn best known for portraying the oh-so-strategic yet oh-so-diabolical Diana on the 1980s television series “V”. (Chart) These days she brings a Capricornian sense of authenticity to her role as a well-dressed, highly ambitious, and oh-so-devious businesswoman on the hit Australian soap opera Neighbors:

Sitting 150 degrees from Capricorn is Leo, the sign of the Entertainer and the Performer, the Actor and Actress, the King and the Queen, the Movie Star and the Showman, the Mistress of Ceremonies and the Professor of Super Stardom. Even the most mundane of activities will be infused with all the drama of a big budget movie premier or Broadway play when a person’s Moon (emotional needs) is in Leo (attention). Astrologer Raven Kaldera associates the Leo Moon with “Bast”, the Egyptian Cat Goddess who was the patron saint of parades and performances. (Source) Australian sprinter turned YouTube dance routine super-sensation Michelle Jenneke is a Leo Moon whose instincts (Moon) for parades and performances (Leo) have made her a viral video mega-celebrity who is to the denizens of social media what Bast was to the citizens of ancient Egypt. (Chart)

Combine the organizational capacity of a Capricorn Sun with the theatrical instincts of a Leo Moon and the result is a Sun/Moon pairing that gets down to brass tack reality (Capricorn) but with a whole lot of pizzaz (Leo), combines business mindedness (Capricorn) with creative flair (Leo), is very ambitious (Capricorn) yet also quite charismatic (Leo). This is the Sun/Moon pairing most likely to find success (Capricorn) in the entertainment (Leo) business, whether it’s amid the gratuity and glamour of Hollywood or the dropkicks and flying face-busters of the World Wresting Federation. To illustrate: Joan Weston is a Capricorn Sun, Leo Moon best known for her ability to deliver dropkicks and face-busters amid the camp glamour and gratuitous showmanship that was 1970s Roller Derby. (Chart) This pairing has a passion for both the big bucks (Capricorn Sun) and the bright lights (Leo Moon) and Weston is thought to have been the highest paid female athlete of her era. (Source) Astrologer Jefferson Anderson observes that this pairing is “much more extroverted than their fellow Capricorns”, something that Mrs. Weston’s disposition in this circa 1975 photo makes quite clear:

Derby was more fringe spectacle than legitimate sport during Weston’s heyday but lately it’s experienced something of a revival, both culturally and financially. Capricorn/Leo is a very ambitious, determined pairing that wants respect with a capital “R” more than anything else. Were she still alive, a Capricorn/Leo like Mrs. Weston would thus be thrilled that a recent Sports Illustrated article explained, “not only is the Derby thriving again, it’s downright respectable to be a doll on wheels”. (Source)

Suzi and Charles Harvey write of this pairing’s capacity to combine work (Capricorn) with high profile fun (Leo), “Women born with this combination are particularly likely to find their way to the top of their chosen mountain, but they will also find the J. Arthur Ranks, David Bowies, and Robert Blys there to party with”. (Source) The good news is that the textbook Capricorn/Leo will not only find a way to bump elbows with the glitterati, they’re also likely to arrive in a first class ride. To illustrate: using its incorporation date as its date of birth, the Bentley automobile corporation is a Capricorn Sun, Leo Moon. (Chart)

The even better news is that astrologer Carolyn Reynolds notes that the Capricorn/Leo woman can “handle her liquor”, which is always good if one is partying with the David Bowies of the world. (Source)

Capricorn and Leo form what’s known as a “quincunx”, an astrological relationship that’s as difficult to reconcile as it is to pronounce. Where Capricorn leans heavily towards the cautious and the conservative, Leo expects the regal and the extravagant. The two signs don’t have too much in common except one thing: they both want to be on the “A-List”, with Capricorn wanting to be on the A-List in the business world and Leo wanting to be on the A-List in the creative world. Linda Goodman observes of the Capricorn/Leo’s capacity for social climbing:

. . . the typical Capricorn prefers marrying up the social ladder to down. [They’re] secretly and shyly impressed by — even in awe of — fame and success, whether on a local community, national, or worldwide basis.

. . . the typical Leo realizes relatively early in life, some measure of prestige and status, some degree of public notice or social distinction.

. . . Capricorn’s “purple mountain majesties” beckon the curious Leo with the promise of a magnificent view from the top. (Source)

Using its initial flight as its date of birth, the Lockheed Martin SR-71 “Blackbird” reconnaissance plane is a Capricorn Sun, Leo Moon. (Chart) Originally introduced in 1966, the SR-71 flew higher, faster, and further than any plane before and any plane since — an amazing set of achievements given the advancements in technology of the last 60 plus years. In true Capricorn/Leo style, it existed at the top of the social ladder (Capricorn) and has enjoyed such enormous public notice (Leo) that even people outside the aviation world will often recognize its distinctive frame. The handful of pilots who’ve flown the SR-71 generally acknowledge that few planes offer a better chance to observe the world’s “purple mountain majesties” or to enjoy “magnificent views from the top” of the world. One pilot even compared it to driving a luxury automobile. (Source) The SR-71 isn’t a Bentley but it does sort of resemble a limo-ride, at least the reconnaissance world’s version of a limo-ride:

The really amazing thing about the SR-71 is that despite being nearly 60 years old, Lockheed Martin is still using it in the recruiting materials for young aeronautical engineers that they place in the pages of aviation related magazines. You could say the SR-71 is to the world of military aviation what a Bentley is to the world of luxury automobiles: a classic that never goes out of style, which is exactly how most Capricorn/Leos would like to be thought of.

Even Capricorn/Leos who find themselves in distinctly alternative professions such as astrology will find a way to do so with class, style, prestige. For instance, astrologer Noel Tyl is a Capricorn Sun, Leo Moon. (Chart) Prior to getting into astrology, Tyl was an opera singer who “specialized in the larger than life roles of Richard Wagner” his Astro.com entry tells us. In true Capricorn/Leo fashion he also worked in the business management side of opera and is now “known and respected as a lecturer in almost every major city in the U.S. and Europe”. You could go so far as to say Tyl is to the world of professional astrologers what the SR-71 is to the world of reconnaissance aircraft: a jet setting high flyer known the world round.

In his book Synthesis and Counseling in Astrology, Tyl says that in the Capricorn/Leo pairing, “the energy to organize and deploy resources is showcased for the fulfillment: self-dramatization is the mode for persuasion and the call for appreciation”. (Source)

Capricorn/Leos are naturals when it comes to management, leadership, showcasing, and self-dramatization but they can also be serious social snobs and more than a bit dictatorial. This is because both Capricorn and Leo have a streak of elitism in their DNA, with Capricorn leaning towards elitism in the financial world and Leo leaning towards elitism in the social world. The Bentley corporation, for instance, is a symbol of class and style but also financial despotism (Capricorn) and unabashed social privilege (Leo). Even the SR-71 was something of a social snob in its day. According to a recent documentary, its unique aerodynamics caused the plane to fly with its nose pointed up in the air even when it was flying straight and level, almost as though it thought it was superior to all the other aircraft beneath its vapor trails. In other words, the SR-71 often sported exactly the sort of posture we’d expect from a CEO (Capricorn) or member of royalty (Leo) who walks around with their nose in the air thinking they’re “above” everybody else — which technically the SR-71 was.

Even Capricorn/Leos squarely in the “99%” will often consider themselves a member of the “1%”, albeit one in waiting. Not coincidentally, the SR-71 flew so high that it was routinely in the upper 1% of the Earth’s atmosphere. (Source) Capricorn/Leos feel being in the 1% is safe because when you’re that high up nobody can hurt you. The SR-71 flew in the upper 1% of the atmosphere not only for purposes of spying but also because being that high up meant it was out of the range of Cold War era Russian jet fighters and surface to air missiles. From that altitude it was thus nearly impossible to shoot down. The pilots who flew the SR-71 were also considered in the upper 1% of their respective profession, generally older and much more established than their hot-shot, “Top-Gun” inspired brethren.

“In the one percent? Older and more established? Well then, what’s his phone number?” more than a few Capricorn/Leos will ask.

The SR-71 was a supersonic reconnaissance plane, not a bomber or attack aircraft. So while it was never used to kill people the U.S. did utilize its capacity to generate incredibly loud sonic booms in a distinctly Capricorn/Leo fashion: when other countries were having national events the U.S. would sometimes have a SR-71 do a supersonic flyby from tens of thousands of feet up in the air. The subsequent sonic boom would totally disrupt the event, thus letting everybody down on the ground known who the real boss is.(Source)

Capricorn/Leos are often very shrewd when it comes to money but the Harveys warn that this pairing can also be something of a gold-digger. Jill Kelley, the media savvy Tampa Bay socialite who was at the center of the Paula Broadwell/David Petreaus scandal, is a Capricorn/Leo. (Chart) More than a few commentators have characterized her as a straight up gold-digger. (Source)

Of course, there are different types of “gold diggers” — not all of them necessarily bad. A high proportion of Capricorn/Leos are the sort of gold-diggers willing to show up to the gold mine at the crack of dawn with shovel and pick in hand, more than ready to put in a hard day’s work for their gold. If they just so happen to partner with somebody who’s also really good at digging for gold then what’s so wrong with that? After all, even Mrs. Kelley had to put in a whole lot of work organizing the lavish, A-List parties she and her surgeon husband were known for throwing.

As the saying goes, “don’t hate the playa’ . . .”

Anyhow, Capricorn is the sign of the structures built to last and Leo has been associated with gold bullion so if you do find some gold and need a safe place to stash it, the house of a Capricorn/Leo might be a good spot. To illustrate: using its completion date as its date of birth, Fort Knox is a Capricorn Sun, Leo Moon. (Chart) For those who may not know, Fort Knox is the repository for the federal government’s gold supply. It was established during the Great Depression as part of Franklin Roosevelt’s plan to stabilize the nation’s collapsing economy. Capricorn/Leos do well in Hollywood and, as coincidence would have it, Fort Knox has been the subject of many Hollywood films. Most notably, it was the subject of Gold Finger, widely considered the most iconic of the James Bond films:

So long as they keep the social climbing and gold-digging to a reasonably low roar, Capricorn/Leos often posses first rate organizational acumen and a knack for raising funds on behalf of philanthropic endeavors. Better yet, this pairing knows how to keep its poise, polish, composure, and class amid even the toughest of circumstances. At a time when the economy is still mired in the most dogged recession since the 1930s and pretty much everybody seems to be going through a giant collective mental breakdown, this pairing’s combination of backbone (Capricorn Sun) and self-assurance (Leo Moon) might be worth more than all the gold in the world.

About the Author: Matt Savinar is a California licensed attorney (State Bar #228957), voluntarily inactive as of June 2013. He can be reached for questions, comments, or consults at his contact page.