Mars is the force that seeks to create imbalance. Where Venus achieves unity by harmonising and bringing together the two opposing streams, Mars also achieves unity but through the destruction of the lower aspect of duality. Mars brings about new conditions that go against the status quo. This takes place both in the internal and external worlds. Internally, it is the force responsible for inflammation, redness, and fever associated with disease. Through this process the Mars forces purge the body of the old and limiting information and allow the new codes coming from the soul to enter that part of body. The other function of Mars within the body, is to deliberately rouse the lower nature through the blood so that the soul can rise to the challenge and overcome it. This martial instigation of conflict is played out in the physical body if Mars is placed in an earth sign, the emotional or astral body if placed in water, the mind or nervous system if placed in air and if placed in the fire signs the lower ego is stimulated and the battleground is either in the head (Aries), the heart (Leo) or the liver (Sagittarius) all of which are liable to overheat.   

Anatomy and Physiology

1. Mars is often prone to accidents and injuries especially those involving bruises or bleeding.


2. Mars rules the flight or fight response, the adrenaline hormone the adrenals in general.


3. Mars rules the acids in the body as the nature of acid is highly astral and catabolic.


4. Mars has a connection to the immune system as Mars defends the integrity of the body and will attack non-self.


5. In the sexual and reproductive sphere, Mars is related to sexually transmitted diseases and often features in the charts of women undergoing abortion.


6. Mars rules all forms of surgery

Head region

1. A particular tissue effected is the pineal gland, as this is connected to the crown chakra. The crown chakra is furthermore paired with the base chakra and the adrenal glands, which are similarly governed by Mars. There may be problems with sleep-wake cycles, seasonal affective disorders and circadian cycles, since the pineal deals with light metabolism and orientation in time-space. Consider Uranus-Mars patterns here.


2. Inflammation within the head, especially with red plethoric congestion relates to Mars patterns. Consider also Mercury with Mars patterns for nervous system inflammation. Mars with Sun patterns may doubly increase the heat within the blood, leading to hot headaches, sunstroke, migraines, haemorrhage within the brain (especially related to hypertension, subarachnoid haemorrhage).


3. For head injuries, especially involving skull fracture, consider Saturn-Mars patterns, or Mars afflicted when in the 1st house or in Aries.

Iron metabolism

1. The incorporation of iron into the haemoglobin of the early red blood cells (erythrocytes) within the bone marrow production. Weak or ineffective Mars leads to anaemia, low levels of blood cells, or reduced haemoglobin levels within the red blood cells. There may be diagnosed bone marrow suppression (consider also Neptune influence), iron deficiency, B12 or folate deficiency (consider also Jupiter for the nutritional based causes an enthusiastic impulse to act, to overcome adversity, to transform challenging situations and thereby strengthen the muscles of the soul and its will-power.


2. Deficient erythropoietin occurs from renal failure (consider also Venus problems with ineffective initial copper incorporation into the bone marrow production).


3. Red blood cell recycling - These cells do not reproduce and generally haemolyse within the spleen sinusoids after about 120 days. There must be ongoing marrow production to compensate for the loss. However, the iron is practically all recycled and stored within the liver. If there is haemolytic anaemia (e.g. malaria, autoimmune, thalassemia) then consider added effects of Pluto with Mars.

Gallbladder function

1. This is the yang pair of the yin liver. The liver (and Jupiter forces) cannot function properly without the flow of bile through the gallbladder, as the drainage fluid. Bile contains bile salts for effective fat emulsification and digestion, bilirubin waste products, cholesterol and excreted drugs (conjugated). Problems are often:


2. Bile obstruction from gallstones or tumours (at head of pancreas usually). Consider Saturn-Mars patterns.


3. Cholangitis, cholecystitis, gallbladder and bile duct inflammation. Sometimes there is a Mars-Jupiter opposition to consider.

Tendons

Muscles

1. Weak muscles, easy fatigue, chronic fatigue syndromes, poor exercise tolerance. A weak Mars, also consider Jupiter.


2. Stiff paralysed or contracted muscles (e.g. after burns, strokes, multiple sclerosis). Consider Saturn-Mars patterns.

Sexual functions

1. This especially relates to the male reproductive system, testosterone levels, testes function and sperm production. Also the androgen levels of the adrenal cortex. There is a Mars influence during puberty for development of male secondary sexual characteristics, and also the ongoing levels of male libido and physical performance during adult life. Problems include:


2. Arteriosclerosis of the penile arteries, penile erection dysfunction, low libido. Consider Saturn-Mars patterns.


3. Under-development of the male system, immature genitalia. A weak Mars, also consider the added influence of Uranus.


4. Inflammation of the gonads or system, e.g. orchitis, prostatitis. Consider also the Moon.

Retrograde Mars