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Mercury and Mars Aspects

Mercury and Mars aspects. We explain the difference between the five Ptolemaic aspects with the two planets Mercury and Mars in a chart.

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Mercury and Mars Aspects

by Starzology Guest Writers

Author: Arwynne O’Neill – Published: March 2024

Mercury and Mars Aspects

Kinds of Aspects

Today we’re going to be talking about something a little different. We’ve had a few questions come in about the difference between the various kinds of aspects we talk about, in transits or people’s charts, and we’ve done an entire episode (which will link to in the show notes) about the major aspects. But I wanted to take this episode and just go through all the major aspects with the same two planets. There are also minor aspects, but I’m just going to focus on the big five here, which would be the conjunction, the sextile and trine (the “soft” aspects), opposition and square (the “hard” aspects). This way we can really get a feel for the subtle differences when they apply to the same two planets, and those two planets are Mercury and Mars.

To quickly recap what aspects are, I’m going to quote from The Inner Sky by Stephen Forrest, in which he says, “If signs, planets and houses are the basic words in the astrological language then aspects are the laws of grammar and syntax that govern how those words must be hooked together. Aspects represent our first solid step towards the formation of full-blown coherent astrological sentences.”

Aspects are the angles that describe the relationships between any two planets. Aspect patterns describe when three or more planets are involved but today we’ll just be focusing on the major aspects (saving the biquintile for another day!).

Listen to MERCURY aspecting MARS podcast episode

Conjunctions

(0 degrees)

A conjunction is zero degrees which means the two planets occupy the same position in the sky. With a conjunction the energies of the two planets are combined and express themselves as one which may be easier or harder depending on the nature of the two planets and of course the sign they occupy.

Sextiles

(60 degrees)

Sextiles are 60° and two signs apart, for example Virgo and Scorpio, Aries and Gemini or Sagittarius and Aquarius. Stephen Forrest says something interesting about the sextile, which is that it’s often considered a watered-down trine, but in fact it’s quite distinct and it produces excitation, intense, colorful and dynamic stimulation, so there’s humor, enthusiasm and restlessness but in a positive way, like the feeling of falling in love, dancing or laughing.

Trines

(120 degrees)

Trines are 120° or four signs apart and they’re considered the softest and easiest of the aspects. The key word is “flowing.” They occur with two signs in the same element, so two water signs, fire signs, air signs or earth signs. Signs in a trine relationship are allies. They support each other but they’re not always passionate, to continue the relationship metaphor. They can also be wasted because the energies flow together so easily you sometimes take them for granted.

Squares

(90 degrees)

A square is 90° or three signs apart and they’re considered the most difficult of the hard aspects because here we have friction without commonality. Squares are the aspect of constant tension, where the two signs have a lack of understanding, like two cars at an intersection trying to decide who should go first.

Oppositions

(180 degrees)

An opposition is when two signs are 180° apart or exactly opposite each other in the birth chart. Oppositions create a push and pull energy, whether they occur in one chart or between two people. The keywords are tension and polarization. Think about the signs Taurus and Scorpio, it doesn’t get much more opposite but it’s like the old saying, opposites attract. Each sign contains what the other lacks and they can come together and create a whole that is greater than the two parts.

More on Aspects

Mercury and Mars Aspects

We’re going to use Mercury and Mars as our example, because Mercury moves so quickly that we wouldn’t normally talk about the transits, so this is a great opportunity to take a deep dive into what it means when Mercury is in any major aspect with Mars in the birth chart.

Mercury of course is the planet of communication, speech, thought patterns, your style of self-expression, writing, humor, body language, etc.

Mars is the planet of drive, aggression, activity, initiative and sexual conquest. It can also suggest the type of man you’re attracted to.

Mercury conjunct Mars

When these two planets are conjunct, we see one’s initiative or aggressiveness and intellect occur as one initiative in the chart. When one is affected by a Transit or the energy of another person, the other is activated at the same time. We get a sharp or forceful intellect, a competitive mind, someone with a temper who uses their words as weapons.

The energies of Mercury and Mars are fused together and will never operate independently for that person. These people sometimes talk very quickly; they are not afraid to stand up for themselves or others and they often don’t care whether others agree with them. They are sometimes rash, tactless, sarcastic or even offensive but very straightforward and blunt.

Celebrities with Mercury conjunct Mars

Heath Ledger, John F Kennedy, Meryl Streep, Salvador Dali and Kendrick Lamar.

The Soft Aspects: Trines and Sextiles

With the soft aspects, the trine and sextile, Mercury and Mars indicate an alert and active mind, affluent conversationalist, someone who is brisk and Lively and for both, with an active mental life and easy communication style. They express their opinions freely, independently and easily and maybe a very good with their hands. The difference between the trine and sextile in this case would be more easily felt by the person than observed from outside.

With the trine, both planets would be in the same element, for example Leo and Sagittarius or Libra and Aquarius. Obviously someone with those combinations would be very different from each other and the expression of their aggressive intellect would come across very differently.

With the sextile, they might have Mercury in Leo and Mars in Libra, which would create a very different personality than if they had, say, Mercury in Leo trine Mars in Sagittarius.

Celebrities with Mercury Sextile Mars

Beyoncé, Princess Diana, Katy Perry, Prince, Sharon Stone, Jay Z, Bill Clinton and Sean Penn.

Celebrities with Mercury Trine Mars

Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Lawrence, Franklin D. Roosevelt and George Orwell.

The Hard Aspects: Oppositions and Squares

The opposition and the square are similar in many ways, both being hard aspects. There may be combative egotism and sharp aggressive temperamental behavior that can antagonize others. This person is often unable to control their communication Style and they behave in an irritable temperamental, rash and hot headed fashion. The important difference between these two hard aspects comes when you consider the signs involved.

Someone who has Mercury in Gemini, for example, opposite Mars in Sagittarius will exhibit this energy quite differently from someone who has Mercury in Gemini square Mars in Virgo or Pisces. In this example, the opposition will create a lively and adventurous personality, someone who loves wordplay and banter, maybe a prolific writer or wordsmith or conversationalist and regaling others of their adventures and exploits. Whereas the square will create more tension, someone who constantly feels the need to prove their intellect, a verbose intellectually aggressive, maybe even ostentatious or obnoxious personality.

On the other hand, the square can create frustration and a difficulty in communicating clearly. The person with this aspect may always feel like they need to clarify or explain themselves or that they’re often misunderstood.

Celebrities with Mercury square Mars

Michael Jackson, Pamela Anderson, Marilyn Manson, Sean Connery, Warren Buffett, Tom Brady, Conor McGregor and Anthony Bourdain.

Celebrities with Mercury opposite Mars

Kate Blanchett, Christina Ricci, Nina Simone, Ice Cube, Alice Cooper and Tucker Carlson.

More on Aspects

The aspects are the dialogue between the planets. Below is a selection of articles on aspects.

Conjunctions

Conjunction aspects form when two planets are very close to each other and within an 8° orb.

Oppositions

Opposition Aspects

Opposition aspects form when two planets are opposite each other in a chart. They 180° apart with an orb of 8°.

Opposition Basics

Trines

Trine Aspects

Trine aspects form when two planets are 120° apart with an orb of 8°.

Squares

Square Aspects

Square aspects form when two planets are 90° apart with an orb of 8°.

Sextiles

Sextile Aspects

Sextile aspects form when two planets are 60° apart with an orb of 4°.

Author Bio

Arwynne O’Neill: Research Astrologer

Arwynne O’Neill works as a research astrologer in Vancouver, with a focus on delving into historical cycles and how they relate to societal transformations as influenced by the energies of the outer planets.

Contact Arwynne

Website MsPink

Instagram @mspinkdotnet

Mercury and Mars Aspects

Mercury and Mars aspects. We explain the difference between the five Ptolemaic aspects with the two planets Mercury and Mars in a chart.

The Square Aspect

by Alison Price The Square Aspect The circle divided by four. 360°/4 = 90° Same Mode Planets in square aspect to one another are usually in the same mode. More about the modes. Read The Modes at the Movies. Disassociate square A disassociate square is found when the...

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Venus Sextile Uranus

Author: Arwynne O’Neill – Published: March 2024

Transiting Venus Sextile Uranus

Today we’re going to be talking about the upcoming transit of Venus sextile Uranus, which will be exact on March 28, 2024 and it happens once a year. Venus will be at 20° Pisces and Uranus will be at 20° Taurus. First, a bit of basics about the sextile, it’s a 60° aspect which means the planets are two signs away from each other. In this case, Pisces and Taurus, which are both feminine signs with very different yet complimentary energies.

We typically find the sextile to be a very energetic and agreeable aspect, so it’s one of the best aspects to find in relationship charts. The trine is the other soft aspect but the sextile is more active than the trine, which tends to be a bit too easygoing to actually make the most of the energies involved. This is especially true when you have trines between two charts in a synastry comparison.

In this case, the two planets we have in sextile are Venus and Uranus. Uranus has a very disruptive and electric energy. It rules invention, innovation and astrology, among other things, while Venus is the planet of love, harmony and beauty, so we can expect this aspect to affect our relationships in particular, and produce some excitement and fireworks in that area.

You could use this time to dress in a way you normally wouldn’t, go to an exciting theme party or costume party or do something to spice up your love life. You’re going to be happiest doing something non-traditional and even eccentric. This really is an aspect that’s all about fun and flair and making the most of the unexpected and exciting.

It’s an excellent time to make new friends and if you’re single, to find a new love interest because this is a great aspect for sexual attraction which may or may not last. If you live in Vancouver or any city with a restaurant offering a “blind dining” experience, it’s a great date night idea. You can read Arwynne’s review of Dark Table here.

Listen to Venus sextile Uranus podcast episode

Venus Sextile Uranus in the Birth Chart

People with this aspect in their natal chart tend to be open-minded and progressive in their personal style, free thinking and exciting, maybe even capricious, strong-willed, active and eccentric.

In her book Aspects and Personality, Karen Hamaker-Zondag says people with this aspect are “fully alive to the individuality in themselves and others. They have a taste for the unusual and an open mind on everything, no matter how strange. Nothing disturbs them and they may even find the unusual stimulating.”

They often look for changes at work or in their relationships so their emotional life may be unstable, unless this aspect is offset by other stabilizing factors like positive aspects to the Moon or Saturn for example.

Celebrities with Venus Sextile Uranus

Billie Eilish, Kendall Jenner, Leonardo da Vinci, Justin Timberlake, Robin Williams, Willow Smith, Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Adam Driver, Lenny Kravitz and Jessica Lange.

A lot of pop music talent and romantic comedy energy going on with this aspect!

Celebrities with Venus in Pisces Sextile Uranus

Emma Watson, George Harrison, Ursula Andress and Tammy Wynette.

Image: David Hume Kennerly,

Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Arwynne’s review of Dark Table restaurant in Vancouver

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Venus Conjunctions

Venus conjoined Mars

Venus Trines

Venus trine Neptune

Venus Squares

Venus Sextiles

Venus sextile Uranus

Author Bio

Arwynne O’Neill: Research Astrologer

Arwynne O’Neill works as a research astrologer in Vancouver, with a focus on delving into historical cycles and how they relate to societal transformations as influenced by the energies of the outer planets.

Contact Arwynne

Website MsPink

Instagram @mspinkdotnet

Mercury and Mars Aspects

Mercury and Mars aspects. We explain the difference between the five Ptolemaic aspects with the two planets Mercury and Mars in a chart.

The Square Aspect

by Alison Price The Square Aspect The circle divided by four. 360°/4 = 90° Same Mode Planets in square aspect to one another are usually in the same mode. More about the modes. Read The Modes at the Movies. Disassociate square A disassociate square is found when the...

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VENUS Conjoined MARS: Astrology Aspects Series

Guest author: Arwynne O’Neill – Published: February 2024

Today we’re going to be talking about an aspect that’s coming up on February 22, 2024. Mars and Venus are going to be conjunct in Aquarius at 9°.

Venus Conjoined Mars in Transit

This aspect occurs once a year. Since both Venus and Mars move pretty quickly, we’ll only feel the effects around this date, but we can expect to feel a heightened sense of excitement in relationships because both Venus and Mars are relationship planets. Aquarius is a bit more cold, detached and intellectual as an air sign, so it’s not going to be super fireworksy. That being said, it’s probably a great time to get to know somebody new or to reconnect with a partner with whom you share common interests and do something intellectually stimulating together.

Listen to VENUS conjoined MARS podcast episode.

Venus Conjoined Mars in the Natal Chart

People with Venus conjunct Mars are described as temperamental and competitive, with an independent, adventurous streak. Often in childhood they feel more connected to the parent of the opposite sex and this is because the blending of male and female energies is heightened when Venus is conjunct Mars, especially when it’s in an air sign like Aquarius where it can be more remote and unconventional then it would be in a different sign.

Depending on how tight the conjunction is, either Venus or Mars might be stronger in the chart. So you want to look at other aspects those planets make. If it’s a tight conjunction, they will act as one super-planet. Any aspects that happen to one will happen to the other and any transits from other planets will affect both Venus and Mars at the same time. If it’s a wider conjunction, say five degrees or more, one of the planets might dominate. For example, Venus might also be opposite Uranus, but not Mars, which would give a very different flavor and add a touch of unexpected, disruptive energy to the personality.

Sexual relationships always play an important part when Venus and Mars are conjunct and these people can be somewhat hedonistic, temperamental and inconsiderate of others in their pursuits of pleasure or their own self-interest in a relationship.

In the excellent book “Aspects in Astrology: A Comprehensive Guide to Interpretation,” Sue Tompkins gives some key phrases for Venus-Mars aspects. They are characterized as the romantic adventurer, love and competition, romantic triangles, sexual love, assertion and compromise, putting energy into beauty, and fighting for money.

She says these people radiate personality and Mars gives vigor to Venus, while Venus softens Mars in the chart, regardless of what sign they’re in. This is a highly creative combination and depending on what sign it’s in, that can indicate how their creativity plays out. She gives the example of Venus and Mars in Taurus being interested in fabrics and textiles, and a talent for working with their hands. Presumably Aquarius would suggest a more intellectual, technological or even abstract and mathematical or digital creativity.

She also stresses the competitive nature of this aspect and says there is frequently a love for or pursuit of money and an appreciation for the finer things, and an enhanced ambition for acquisition.

Venus in Aquarius

Steven Arroyo, in “Person to Person Astrology,” describes Venus in Aquarius as expressing affection freely, unconventionally, flirtatiously, humorously and experimentally. They are individualistic, detached and rebellious. They love exchanging theories and ideas and need to be actively social with many people in order to give fully of their emotional nature.

More on Venus.

Mars in Aquarius

These people assert themselves intelligently, individualistically, eccentrically and independently. Achievement of goals can be thwarted by rebelliousness but their revolutionizing urges can be channeled into creative innovations. Aquarius is one of the most loyal signs but they also need to be intellectually stimulated in order to stay interested in anything, relationships included. If they lose interest they’re more likely to become emotionally detatched than to actually be unfaithful.

More on Mars.

Celebrities with Venus conjunct Mars in Aquarius

Harry Styles, Alec Baldwin, Tony Robbins, Axl Rose, Gary Oldman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Sheryl Crow, Holly Hunter and Eddie Izzard

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Author Bio

Arwynne O’Neill: Research Astrologer

Arwynne O’Neill works as a research astrologer in Vancouver, with a focus on delving into historical cycles and how they relate to societal transformations as influenced by the energies of the outer planets.

Contact Arwynne

Website MsPink

Instagram @mspinkdotcom

Mercury and Mars Aspects

Mercury and Mars aspects. We explain the difference between the five Ptolemaic aspects with the two planets Mercury and Mars in a chart.

The Square Aspect

by Alison Price The Square Aspect The circle divided by four. 360°/4 = 90° Same Mode Planets in square aspect to one another are usually in the same mode. More about the modes. Read The Modes at the Movies. Disassociate square A disassociate square is found when the...

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Vocational Astrology

In your astrology business it is a good ldea to do an END-OF-YEAR REFLECTION of your profits, energy expenditure and the people in your life.

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SUN Conjoined SATURN: Astrology Aspects Series

Guest writer: Arwynne O’Neill – Published: February 2024

Sun Conjunct Saturn

The Sun and Saturn will be conjunct at 9° Pisces on February 28, 2024. This is an aspect that occurs once a year since the Sun goes through each sign for one month, and Saturn has a 30-year orbit so it spends about two and a half years in each sign, give or take a couple of retrograde periods. Dates for the last 80 years are listed below so you can find your Saturn placement if you don’t know it.

This is a hard-working and somewhat somber transit but it can also be very rewarding if you’ve been working hard. This can be a time when your hard work pays off, where you can achieve long-term goals or prove yourself to others through determined effort. On the negative side, you might find that your desire to assert your individuality or autonomy could be hindered or limited by this transit of Saturn.

Sun conjoined Saturn podcast episode

Sun conjunct Saturn in the natal chart

This is pretty universally described as a challenging aspect to have in childhood. Most of the books describe this as an aspect of painful self-awareness, pessimism and potential depression. A difficult childhood with possibly harsh, disciplinarian parents or very conservative. Maybe the child had to work very hard, either in school or by actually joining the workforce at an early age. They’re often very serious or even melancholy and emotionally withdrawn. The conjunction in Pisces would certainly amplify that emotional melancholy and depressive nature.

Sue Tompkins, in her wonderful book “Aspects in Astrology,” says this aspect is characterized by self-denial, self-discipline, self-control, self-defense. Other keywords are the importance of authority, illumination of fears and the importance of time because of course Saturn is the planet of time, and the awareness of restrictions and limitations.

She goes on to say when Saturn touches any planet in the natal chart, the person tends to crave the things that planet represents, and when it’s the Sun, people with this aspect yearn to be considered important because they believe or fear that they’re really insignificant, and those feelings start in early childhood. Sun-Saturn children often do not feel a strong sense of their own importance; for some reason they feel their uniqueness and individuality were not recognized, reinforced or accepted. Their tough exterior can mask a desperately sensitive inner life, which may express itself in long-form creative writing, world-building or caring professions, especially those that are emotionally challenging for others. They may be excellent helpers and healers but not particularly nurturing one-on-one.

In adulthood, this aspect is described as conservative, disciplined, ambitious, solitary, hard-working, and often exhibiting a dark sense of humor. They can be trustworthy, good mentors, dependable and often very successful in the long term. Someone you want on your side in the zombie apocalypse or tax season!

They can often become exhibitionists or obsessed with their self-importance because of this perceived repression. So what may start out as an inferiority complex can go to the other extreme where they have a grandiose sense of their own importance in adulthood because they’ve had to carve their personality out of the rough rocks of austerity.

Saturn in Pisces keywords

Spiritual dedication, deep emotions or being an emotional “rock,” limiting beliefs, conservatism or austerity, dogmatism, transformation through hard work, old souls.

Saturn in Pisces dates

Feb 14, 1935, to Apr 25, 1937
Oct 17, 1937, to Jan 14, 1938
Mar 23, 1964, to Sep 16, 1964
Dec 16, 1964, to Mar 3, 1967
May 21, 1993, to Jun 30, 1993
Jan 28, 1994, to Apr 7, 1996
Mar 7, 2023, to May 24, 2025
Sep 1, 2025, to Feb 13, 2026

More about Saturn in Pisces

Celebrities with Sun conjunct Saturn in Pisces

Zack Snyder, Justin Bieber, Dean Stockwell, Dakota Fanning and Alexander Graham Bell.

Sun and Saturn conjunct but not in Pisces

Robert Duvall, Matt Dillon, Al Pacino, Sting, Kibe Bryant, Tracey Ullman, Pink, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Vladimir Putin.

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Author Bio

Arwynne O’Neill: Research Astrologer

Arwynne O’Neill works as a research astrologer in Vancouver, with a focus on delving into historical cycles and how they relate to societal transformations as influenced by the energies of the outer planets.

Contact Arwynne

Website MsPink

Instagram @mspinkdotcom

Mercury and Mars Aspects

Mercury and Mars aspects. We explain the difference between the five Ptolemaic aspects with the two planets Mercury and Mars in a chart.

The Square Aspect

by Alison Price The Square Aspect The circle divided by four. 360°/4 = 90° Same Mode Planets in square aspect to one another are usually in the same mode. More about the modes. Read The Modes at the Movies. Disassociate square A disassociate square is found when the...

Astro Business End-of-Year Reflection

Vocational Astrology

In your astrology business it is a good ldea to do an END-OF-YEAR REFLECTION of your profits, energy expenditure and the people in your life.

« Older Entries

Venus Square Chiron