What Your Mars Sign Says About Your Lust & Libido

It's getting hot in here...

Dec 08, 2023

We’ve discussed your relationship to your emotions through your moon sign and your relationship to your feminine energy and partnerships through your Venus sign, so now we’re getting a little hot and heavy.

As (I hope) you know by now, you are far beyond just your sun sign. In fact, you have a different zodiac placement for every planet, major luminary and comet or asteroid in the sky, which all play a role in uniquely creating your cosmic blueprint.

So today, we’re going to talk about your Mars placement.

(If you want to know all of your placements, you can get a free birth chart breakdown here or I always recommend downloading the app Time Passages on your phone.)

In astrology, Mars (the ruler of Aries and co-ruler of Scorpio) is one of the planets that holds significant importance in understanding an individual's birth chart. Mars is often associated with energy, assertiveness, ambition, passion, and the desire to take action. It is named after the Roman god of war, reflecting its connection to strength, courage, and the pursuit of goals.

Here are some key aspects of Mars in astrology and its representation in a person's birth chart:

Energy and Drive: Mars is considered the planet of energy and drive. Its placement in the birth chart can indicate the level of vitality and physical energy a person possesses. A strong Mars is often associated with enthusiasm, motivation, and a proactive approach to life. Strong Mars placements include Mars in a fire sign (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), Mars in Capricorn (its exalted sign), Mars in Scorpio and Mars in the 10H.
Assertiveness and Aggression: Mars is linked to assertiveness and, in some cases, aggression. Its influence can manifest in how individuals express themselves, assert their needs, and pursue their goals. A well-aspected Mars can indicate healthy assertiveness, while challenging aspects may suggest issues with anger or impatience.
Ambition and Goal-Setting: Mars is a key player in one's ambitions and how they go about achieving goals. The position of Mars in the birth chart can offer insights into a person's drive to succeed, compete, and overcome challenges. It signifies how individuals direct their energy toward their objectives.
Passion and Sexuality: Mars is also associated with passion and the sexual drive. In matters of romance and relationships, Mars can reveal how one approaches intimacy, expresses desire, and experiences the physical aspects of love.
Courage and Bravery: Mars is linked to courage and bravery, reflecting the warrior spirit. Its influence in the birth chart can indicate a person's willingness to confront challenges, face adversity, and stand up for their beliefs.
Athleticism and Physical Activity: Mars is often associated with physical activity, sports, and athleticism. Its position in the birth chart can suggest the type of physical activities a person may be drawn to and how they approach fitness and exercise.

Now, we’re not done learning from our girl Judy Hall, author of Karmic Connections, so this breakdown concerning lust and libido is going to be her interpretation. As always, feel free to go down the rabbit hole and do your own research.

Hall writes the following about Mars:

“Mars symbolizes virility and passion, lust and potency. How well Mars is aspected by the outer planets, and the sign and element in which this planet is placed, indicate whether the soul has learned to be sexually expressive in the past, with libido flowing spontaneously, or whether passion has been repressed and contained. Where Mars is placed in a sign that shows a free expression of libido and yet has restrictive aspects such as Saturn, the underlying freedom has to be regained. If Mars is placed in a sign that indicates a repressed libido, then outer planet aspects may throw light on how libido came to be suppressed.”

She continues to describe how Mars energy can show up in regards to lust and libido depending on the element your Mars sign is in.

Mars in Fire Signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius)
”The soul with Mars in a fire sign has a volcanic sexual past and a strong libido. Passion is hot and spontaneous, and may arise out of the blue. This is the element of immediate gratification. There is little foreplay with this placement. Mars sees what it wants, and goes for it. The soul may need to temper the immediacy of its own sexual needs so that it can enter into a sharing relationship with another.”

Mars in Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces)
”Passion runs strong in the water signs, but it is more diffuse. Mars in this element prefers to be the pursued rather than the pursuer. Libido gives way to emotional needs. Fantasy may become an emotional escape. Water signs like to lead up to things gradually, savoring the emotion of the moment. Some souls with Mars in the water element have become adept at hiding their passion (Scorpio), others approach circuitously (Cancer), and those with Mars in Pisces almost inevitably confuse love with lust.”

Mars in Earth Signs (Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo)
”The soul with Mars in the earth element takes a pragmatic approach to sex. Libido is strong, sex a basic urge to be filled regularly. This placement has rarely had problems expressings its desire in the past although Mars in Virgo can be prissy and restrained if the intellect intervenes.”

Mars in Air Signs (Aquarius, Libra, Gemini)
”For Mars in the air element, sex takes place in the head. The rational is preferred to an irrational outburst of unrestrained passion. There is an active fantasy life—which is sometimes retreated into instead of the real thing. This soul is turned on by ideas and libido can be sublimated into other outlets. Mars in Libra is one of the least assertive placements, and the soul may find itself overwhelmed by someone else’s passion and have difficulty in saying no.”

As with everything in astrology, your placements will depend on aspects to other planets, house placement, dignity and health, but hopefully these descriptions help shed more light into how you may show up.