Mars in Libra

IN Libra, Mars is in his detriment; but he is not so weak as might appear from this first consideration. Libra rather tempers his activity with judgment; and, if he be well dignified, he may be as strong here as anywhere. He becomes more effective through being more controlled. But, in every case we examine, we shall find an excellent quality of direction given to him; just as the explosive force of gunpowder gains in effectiveness by virtue of the very limitation of the barrel of the rifle. 

Sadi Carnot, for instance, was by no means so ambitious as Cromwell, who had Mars in Aries; but he did not need to use the same violence. His method was admirably adjusted to circumstances, and he attained his ends without recourse to undue force. He measured his actions carefully, and there was no lack of power, but at the same time no excess. Felix Faure, with the same position of Mars, gives exactly similar evidence of its action. 

Shelley had the same quality; it appears in his work continually. {340} It is indeed admirable, this harmony of motion which one perceives in his rhythm. If it be contrasted with that of Swinburne, the difference between Leo and Libra will appear quite obvious. 

Another admirable illustration of the judicial temperament is the method of Sir William Hamilton, dignified, well-considered, convincing. One can hardly say the same of Luther, but in this case Venus and Jupiter are both in conjunction with Mars, tending to over-excitement. Still, Libra's influence is visible even here; impassioned and intense as Luther was, he never went beyond the bounds of prudence. 

There are two well-known British statesmen with this position for Mars, Mr. Asquith and Winston Churchill. The same tempered and adroit energy is characteristic of both. 

Sir Humphrey Davy, too, has this admirably moderated fire. Without violence or controversy, he managed to have his way, owing to the proper control of his energy by his judgment. In the case of Alfred de Musset, one may say, this is not so obvious. There was a good deal of overproduction of energy in his machine, which made for vehemence of expression. But his Mars is powerfully excited by the square of Venus, the semi-sextile of Uranus; and the sextiles of a conjunction of Sol, Mercury and Saturn make up a formidable complex, to which, however, Mars is not the key, but Saturn. It is a very powerful combination, and the calming influence of Libra is to be thanked for the restraint of his method. This should be contrasted with that of Baudelaire, whose complex key is equally powerful, but who has Mars in Aries. 

Occasionally it may occur that Libra is too powerful. Much of Bernard Shaw's apparent inconsistency is due to the fact that he has unrivaled capacity for seeing both sides of every argument with equal clarity, and often sets both together on the same page, or even in the same sentence. And here Mars is very weak, having no particularly close or strong aspects. Libra, therefore modifies his action much more than in the other cases which we have had occasion to consider. 

For the benefit of those who are not in possession of Raphael's Ephemeris, or who are not able to interpret the symbols contained therein, the years when Mars is in the sign Libra are as follows: {341} 

From December 2nd 1840 through February 4th 1841 

April 12th “ July 14th 1841 

November 8th ” December 27th 1842 

October 19th “ December 4th 1844 

September 30th ” November 14th 1846 

September 11th “ October 25th 1848 

August 23rd ” October 7th 1850 

August 2nd “ September 17th 1852 

July 9th ” August 27th 1854 

December 14th 1855 “ July 30th 1856 

November 16th 1857 ” January 7th 1858 

October 27th “ December 13th 1859 

October 7th ” November 21st 1861 

September 19th “ November 2nd 1863 

August 30th ” October 14th 1865 

August 11th “ September 25th 1867 

July 19th ” September 4th 1869 

December 31st 1870 “ March 17th 1871 

June 16th ” August 12th 1871 

November 25th 1872 “ January 22nd 1873 

May 20th ” June 24th 1873 

November 3rd “ December 21st 1874 

October 14th ” November 29th 1876 

September 26th “ November 9th 1878 

September 6th ” October 21st 1880 

August 19th “ October 2nd 1882 

July 28th ” September 12th 1884 

July 2nd “ August 21st 1886 

December 6th 1887 ” February 26th 1888 

March 10th “ July 21st 1888 

November 11th ” December 31st 1889 

October 22nd “ December 7th 1891 

October 2nd ” November 16th 1893 

September 14th “ October 29th 1895 

August 26th ” October 9th 1897 

August 6th “ September 20th 1899 

July 14th ” August 31st 1901 

December 20th 1902 “ April 19th 1903 {342} 

From May 31st through August 6th 1903 

November 20th 1904 ” January 13th 1905 

October 30th “ December 16th 1906 

October 10th ” November 25th 1908 

September 22nd “ November 6th 1910 

September 3rd ” October 17th 1912 

August 15th “ September 28th 1914 

July 23rd ” September 8th 1916 

January 11th “ February 25th 1918 

June 24th ” August 16th 1918 

November 30th 1919 “ January 31st 1920 

April 24th ” July 10th 1920 

November 7th “ December 25th 1921 

October 18th ” December 3rd 1923 

September 29th “ November 13th 1925 

September 11th ” October 25th 1927 

August 22nd “ October 5th 1929

Previous | Index | Next