Chiron Communiqué

Author's Occasional Newsletter

from Steven McFadden

Vol. 8 No.3

© - Copyright - July, 2003

The Mars Factor
— Summer 2003 —

If you gaze into the star-filled sky this summer you will see the red planet Mars, growing larger and brighter each night. This process of intensification will continue until the final days of August, when Mars will appear up to six times larger and up to 24 times brighter than usual.

In fact, Mars will come closer to Earth at that time than it has in almost 73,000 years.

In a very real sense, Mars is "in our faces" this summer. We are being challenged — individually and collectively — to find ways to express Martian energy creatively and constructively.

If we turn our backs and try to ignore the energy of Mars at work in the world, we may well find ourselves becoming hot, impatient, demanding, angry, steaming, evenwarlike. Or we may find ourselves face to face with other people exhibiting those qualities. Mars is nothing to trifle with. Mars means business. Mars will not be denied. Mars asks for your courage, your action, and your skill.

In the terms of astronomy, Mars is nearest to Earth when it is both in perihelion (closest to the sun) and in opposition (opposite side of Earth from the Sun). This year the Mars' perihelion occurs at virtually the same time as the opposition, a dual phenomenon that happens rhythmically about every 15 to 17 years.

As it happens, on August 27, 2003, Mars will be 34.65 million miles (55.76 million km) from Earth, its closest approach to Earth in almost 73,000 years.

If you follow the link below, it will lead you to an illustration of the Mars perihelion/opposition: http://sci2.esa.int/marsexpress/gallery/9963.html

While astronomy offers images of what is happening physically in the sky, the much older tradition of astrology offers images of what may come to pass metaphysically. In the terms of the classical Western tradition, Mars is associated with desire, energy, urges, and action.

The basic astrological principle was articulated millennia ago by Hermes Trismegistus: "As Above, So below." What that means in a nutshell is that if we observe something significant in the heavens, we will witness a correspondence below on Earth, and vice versa.

So if we look above and see that Mars is "in our face" all summer — closer to the Earth than it has been in 73,000 years — then we may well wonder what correspondences will emerge below. If the Hermetic principle is valid, then we can expect to see a noticeable increase in energy of a Martian character over the next two months.

As with all power, the energy of Mars can be used or misused. At its worst, Mars serves the naked, hungry ego and may be expressed as impatience, irritation, pushiness, anger, rage, violence, and war. At its best, Mars is guided by the light of the soul and is competent to get what it needs following the highest ethical and spiritual principles. An elevated Mars is the hero, the champion, the protector of all that is delicate, weak, or in need of help. Mars helps to move things forward along the unfolding spiral of spiritual evolution.

In her book "Making the Gods Work for You," Caroline W. Casey writes: "Mars reminds us that spiritual life is not some passive, safe, wimpy, trust-fund tour; it is a bold, active, heroic and completely engaged adventure. Arousal is necessary if we are to be able to take appropriate action."

As various elders have suggested to me in conversations, action is the spiritual ideal of this era, this time of transition. But action toward what, and directed in what manner?

Toward the larger end of a just and sustainable planet graced by peace, and also by way of conclusion for this newsletter, I thrust upon you some rhetorical questions and challenges in the Martian tradtion:

What do you need? how do you go about getting it? What do you want, and how do you go about getting it? Are you following the highest ethical principles in how you get what you need and want?

What do we as a nation of human beings need? How do we go about getting it? What do we as a nation of human beings want, and how do we go about getting it? Are we following the highest ethical principles in how we get what we need and want?
What are you as one human being willing to fight for, preserve, and protect?

What are we as a nation of human beings willing to fight for, preserve, and protect?

How can you use the extra-amplified energy of Mars wisely and creatively this summer?

Are you getting enough exercise? What are you going to do about it? Today?
The environmental, social, and geopolitical threats to our survival are mounting. The world needs you: your vitality, your skill, and your courage. The world needs also your positive, constructive activity. Come, Join the quest now. Take action. Make something good happen this summer.

Note Bene: On August 16, as the Martian energies are building to a peak, a seasoned group of Santa Fe astrologers will explore all of these Martian themes, and much more, in an all-day workshop. I am happy that I will be among them. The intensive workshop is entitled "War, Peace and the Mars Factor." Details are available in the Chiron Schedule.

Resources:
Here are some links to basic astronomical information on what is going on with Mars in the sky this summer:
http://www.planetary.org/marswatch2003/mars_facts2.html

http://www.cranbrook.edu/institute/learning/mars_viewing.shtml

http://www.spaceweather.com/delights/mars2003_Loop.html

Basic astrological information on Mars at opposition/perihelion this summer:
http://www.astrologycom.com/marsattack1.html

Caroline W. Casey is the author of "Making the Gods Work for You" (Random House, 1998). Her website: http://www.spiritualintrigue.com/

More to come...

* The Chiron Communique is now published as a blog on the Chiron Communications home page.

The Mars Factor — Summer 2003 —

The Mars Factor
— Summer 2003 —