Mars, Mercury, and The Inner Journey of Aries

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Aries Season is upon us once again. Heralding the spring and marking the beginning of another Zodiac year. At the Soul level, Aries also marks the beginning of a fantastic journey: the journey of Life.

In Esoteric Astrology the twelve signs of the Zodiac tell a story: the magical story of consciousness incarnating¹ into matter, in the form of a Human Being. Irrespective of different faiths, and known by many names, all scriptures tell of Holy Beings that are here to help. Guiding the Human Soul on its journey and ensuring we don’t stray too far from the path.

“Every blade of grass has an Angel
that bends over it and whispers Grow! Grow!”

-The Talmud

Esoteric Astrology² tells us that the twelve signs of the Zodiac are Divine Intelligences, or Angelic Beings, that ‘oversee’ the different stages of our Soul’s development. In this fantastic journey, the Soul begins in Aries as “a point of light in the mind of God”². In Aries we see the initial spark of inspiration: the first impulse to exist. A Divine Idea that eventually translates into the pulse of Life. An original concept³.

The Soul in Aries is carrying the blueprint and the potential. While we might have a map, and guides to help us keep to it, the success of our grand expedition also depends upon our own efforts and the conditions we meet along the way.

Just as the seeds of spring have the potential to become trees, under the right conditions. They are not yet trees, and the seed is very different from the tree. It is similar with our Soul’s journey. We are in the process of growth and, under the right conditions, we will realize our spiritual potential. Just as the seed needs the right mix of sunlight, warmth, water, earth and nutrients in order to grow, so a Human Soul is also ‘conditioned’ by a number of factors, not least of which are the planets.

The planets play a vital role in this conditioning of our Soul and three planets have an important relationship with Aries: Mars, Mercury and Uranus. At the personality level Mars is the primary energy providing the motivating, driving force. Mars is related to the ‘vital body’ and brings life-force energy into physical existence.  It provides the motivation, power, and movement, that causes the tender shoot to break out of the dark womb-like seed, to strive against the earth and stones, against all odds, to reach the light.

As we navigate our inner journey, we become more familiar with our inner world.  The dedicated Master Yogi’s and Saints that have trodden this inner path before us have described their experiences in scriptures, leaving a kind of map, so we can know what to expect on our own journey. Although each journey is unique, there is some ‘common ground’ that we can all expect to experience.

Patanjali, one of the founders of modern Yoga, described five ‘bodies’⁴ we can experience on our inner journey. He related these to five elements of earth, fire, water, air and ether. These he called the physical or ‘earth’ body (annamay kosh), the energy ‘fire’ body (pranamay kosh – this is also known as the ‘vital’ body in other traditions), the mental ‘water’ body (manomay kosh), intuitive ‘air’ body (vigyanamay kosh), and the bliss ‘ether’ body (anandmay kosh). Our journey is one of awareness and movement through each of these inner ‘bodies’. Once all five have been transcended, we attain ‘Universal Mind’.

Mars brings drive, motive⁵ and motivation. It is the driving force that pushes life-force energy into the physical world. It is the energy of creation, conception and new life (think sperm!). It enlivens and ‘vitalizes’, brings life and vitality, and is closely related to Patanjali’s ‘energy’ body. The driving force of Mars motivates us into action. This universal force is present throughout Nature.

Animals live, and are driven, primarily by their ‘vital’, or energy, bodies. Only in humans did Mars fall out of favor as its influence historically became associated with war and aggression. This is because of man’s misinterpretation through his lower consciousness: the message of Mars is ‘take action’ or ‘move’. When this pure life-giving energy is distorted through the filter of a human mind, it all too often becomes ‘let’s fight’ or ‘go to war’.

This is partly due to the consciousness of humanity at this current time, and the effect of Mars vitalizing our ‘lower nature’. In time, as we expand our consciousness, we will experience and respond to Mars differently, and perceive it’s influence as largely beneficial.

“The effect of Mars is, therefore, largely mass effect and group results, producing great struggles but eventually leading to great revelation. In Aries, it is the final revelation of the nature of knowledge
and the purpose of incarnation.”

– Alice Bailey²

Mars moves us into action. Ultimately it is up to us to choose the action we take, conscious action, or unconscious reaction. The outcome of our actions depends on our own motivation. It is important for anyone with planets in Aries, especially Mars, to continuously check their motives: are your actions motivated by the needs of your head (ego) or the call of your heart and Soul?

Mars rules the lower octave⁶ of Aries, the personality. Empowering Aries with motive – the need to move the Self forward into life and light. For the Soul-centered individual, who has fully integrated personality and Soul, the ruler of Aries is Mercury. The hierarchical ruler of Aries is Uranus². As we evolve in consciousness, our spiritual eyes are opened, and we are able to perceive that which we could not before. More subtle energies and influences become apparent to us. At this point in our evolution the Hierarchical level is beyond our perception so we will focus on the personality and Soul rulers: Mars and Mercury.

Esoteric Astrology speaks of three stages of spiritual development known as the mutable, fixed and cardinal cross⁷. Those on the mutable cross are personality-centered and have little or no awareness of Soul. Those on the fixed cross have some experience of Soul. They have begun awakening, but there is still duality: separation between personality and Soul. The individual on the cardinal cross has fully integrated Soul and personality. There is no separation. Such an individual would be a highly realized spiritual Being like Christ or Buddha. Most of us on the planet at this time will be on the mutable cross, while a fast-growing minority are beginning to awaken on the fixed cross.

The majority of people on the mutable cross will still relate, and be receptive, to Mars as the ruler of Aries. Those on the fixed cross who are awakening and becoming aware of their Soul Presence will begin perceiving the qualities of Mercury, and it’s influence in Aries. When the Being is sensitive, and receptive enough to receive Mercurial energy, then Mercury takes over from Mars and begins the process of awakening, ripening, conditioning and developing the intuitive body.

Mercury is responsible for the development of the antahkarana, or Rainbow Bridge, by which we connect lower and Higher Mind². Aries is very much a sign of the mind, and it is through this ripening and conditioning effect of Mercury that Aries arises from his lower nature to reach his full spiritual potential. The effect of Uranus in Aries lies beyond the individual and is known only at the Hierarchical level (which may be analagous to Patanjali’s Universal Mind). As we awaken spiritually, developing our senses and deepening our perceptive capacity, we become aware of the more subtle influences of these energies. In Aries it is the effects of both Mars and Mercury that are creating the perfect conditions for spiritual development.

During the early stages of our spiritual journey, like tender vulnerable seedlings, we are very susceptible to the energies that condition our growth, but there is a reciprocal effect that comes later. Just like a fully mature forest gives back and sustains the environment which nurtured the individual trees so we too, as fully flowering mature Spiritual beings, will have the capacity to emanate beneficial energies, such as compassion, to nurture and sustain all sentient beings.

“I cannot too strongly reiterate the constant necessity for you to think
in terms of energies and forces, of lines of force,
and energy relationships…
The whole story of astrology is, in reality,
one of magnetic and magical interplay
for the production or externalization of the inner reality…” ²

– Alice Bailey

Soul Astrology is the Astrology of our inner world: our energy field, of all five ‘bodies’ and our journey through them. The natal chart is our own personal mandala, showing us the energetic patterns and dynamics that were present at the precise moment that we came into incarnation, and the planets that are co-creating the conditions for our growth. How much we grow spiritually, and increase our capacity to receive and perceive the potential influences, depends very much on us. On our motives, intention, motivation and the choices we make. We must strive to expand our perception if we are to be aware of more subtle influences.

Will we recognize Mars as the benevolent Father of Life on Earth, driving us steadily towards Mercury and the revelation of our Higher Self? Or will we continue to cast him down as a God of War? The choice is ours.

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Ruth Hadikin is a Soul Path Coach, Author and Soul Astrologer.

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1. Incarnate: From Ecclesiastical Latin incarnatus, past participle of incarnari (be made flesh), from in- + caro (flesh) Definition from http://wiktionary.com
2. “Esoteric Astrology” the wisdom of The Tibetan (Master DK) channeled through Alice Bailey.
3. Concept: From Latin conceptus (a thought, purpose, also a conceiving, etc.), from concipere, present active infinitive of concipi (to take in, conceive); see conceive. Definition from http://wiktionary.com
4. “Mastery Over The Five Elements” by OSHO. Online document available at http://www.osho.com/library/default.aspx
5. Motive: From Medieval Latin motivus (serving to move, motive), from Latin motus, past participle of movere (to move). Definition from http://wiktionary.com
6. Read about the lower and higher octaves of Aries in “Aries-Libra: From Creation to Humanity, With Love” (Parts 1 & 2)
   
7. This is not the same as having a Grand Square or Cosmic Cross in ones own natal chart.