Mars Sign Meaning in Astrology

by Ryan Hart | Updated on May 9, 2021 | Post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the solar system. Named after the Roman god of war, it is often referred to as the Red Planet because the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance.

In addition to its historical aspects, Mars represents masculinity in male horoscopes and fighting spirit and courage in female horoscopes.

Mars in astrology is the ruler of the sign Aries and is considered one of the most important planets due to its influence over human relationships. This sign governs physical appearance, desire, and passion.

This planet is known for being ambitious, strong-willed and energetic. In astrology this is the warrior planet, who gives us courage and the will to succeed.

Mars represents our goals, desires, impulses and demands making us restless for pleasurable experiences. It also represents our capacity to exercise self-discipline, willpower and endurance which makes this planet among the most commanding of the planets.

What Does Your Mars Sign Mean?

If Mars is prominent in your birth chart, you will be full of courage, strength, and endurance. You will be inclined to fight for your rights and to defend your viewpoint or opinions. If Mars is afflicted, your ardour may at times lead you into troubles.

Mars, the planet of energy, action, and initiative, inspires you to create great changes in your life. The ruler of Aries and Scorpio, Mars can bring about passionate feelings and creative ideas into your life.

In Greek and Roman mythology, Mars represents the destructive tendencies of aggression, violence, war, and sex. He was also revered as the god of fertility who helped farms flourish. He was often referred to as the “God of War” for his role in the battles fought among mortals and the gods.

In astrology, Mars represents courage, energy and desire; it also gives people a great sense of drive and determination. It governs endeavors that are driven by passion and desire; this could be career or love life luck.

Mars symbolizes those who are warriors in their spiritual or physical life, and it represents our need for action and excitement.

Mars in Aries

The Mars in Aries temperament can be a lot of fun, and there are certainly many positive traits that come along with having Mars as your ruling planet. These people’s sense of self-worth is always very high, and they possess a tremendous amount of energy.

They put great value on the spoken or written word, and are quite ambitious. They enjoy learning new things, and are very competitive.

Mars in Aries are aggressive and determined, both in a professional and personal sense. Aries becomes the leader of his pack, always keen for an adventure.

Love life, creativity, business and hobbies can flourish with Mars in Aries because of his enthusiasm for action. Thankfully, the impetuous nature of this Mars position normally leads to success.

Mars in Aries personalities love to initiate, experiment, and take risks. They are optimistic and energetic and want to be the first to try new things.

The inner warrior of Mars perfectly blends with the independent nature of Aries, which is why this combination can sometimes be too loud for others to handle. Inner confidence and a need for personal freedom are traits that are stronger in an individual with a Mars in Aries placement. These individuals are trailblazers and quite curious by nature.

Mars in Aries is a dynamic combo that can be a little difficult to handle, particularly as children. Curious and fearless, Aries is fiery and passionate, like Mars. This hot sign also has a powerful sense of purpose that isn’t easily deterred. Both Mars and Aries symbolize action, energy and drive.

Learn more about Mars in Aries

Mars in Taurus

Active, impatient, precise, and always striving for perfection are just a few of the ways to describe Mars in Taurus individuals. They’re ambitious and like to be in control. When they want something they’ll stop at nothing to get it. But after getting what they want, especially material gain, they lose interest and move on.

Mars in Taurus are the guardians and protectors of their family. When they love, they love dearly and when angered, their anger is slow burning and enduring.

They tend to do well in careers that involve working with money and are prone to saving rather than spending. However, once they do spend money on something that will benefit the good of their family, they will spend lavishly. They have a tendency to make good investors.

Mars is the planet of drive and assertion, desire and action. Those born with their Mars in Taurus makes them determined and persistent, powerful but stubborn and sometimes short-tempered. These people are solid as a rock, earning them their reputation for being reliable and dependable.

Learn more about Mars in Taurus

Mars in Gemini

Mars in Gemini people are restless, energetic, talkative and fun loving. They have a good sense of humour and love to be the centre of attention. They like to share their thoughts with others and also have many questions on their own mind.

Mars in Gemini individuals love to talk and are quick to think on their feet. They are vital, mental, and communicative in the extreme. Talking is what they do best and most of their conversations will be fast paced and thoroughly detailed; if anything else gets talked about it will only be because talking about it somehow fits into the rest of the conversation.

Mars in Gemini personalities love discussion and debate; they live for fights with others or even if they have to fight with themselves over an issue. They enjoy making up stories because in doing so they automatically challenge themselves to test how well they can spin a yarn.

Learn more about Mars in Gemini

Mars in Cancer

Mars in Cancer individuals are strong, dependable, and caring people. These are people who will do anything for their family and friends.

They may be very stubborn unless they can learn to listen to others' ideas and opinions. These are strong-willed people who know what they want and go for it, always doing their best for those close to them.

A Mars placement in Cancer has a calming effect on other people. This is why they make great politicians and negotiators. Many will describe them as the glue that holds their families together. On the personal level, Mars in Cancer’s incredible memory makes them great to go to for information about past events.

Mars in Cancer is full of tenacity, courage and passions. You’re very strong, you endure a lot. But your home is everything for you. You want to live it with your own hands.

The Cancer Mars person is always looking for exoticism. If the family is far from the homeland, they will feel uncomfortable without the presence of their loved ones and will feel like their true home as the place where they were born.

Learn more about Mars in Cancer

Mars in Leo

Mars in Leo individuals are highly creative and enthusiastic. They have a knack for artistic expression, making them very popular among others. They love to be the center of attention and yearn for recognition. Mars in Leo people are strong-willed, and they demand respect.

Mars in Leo is a creative, passionate and enthusiastic influence. They enjoy attention and take to the spotlight like they were born to act. They can inspire innovation and an interest in self-expression among those who work with them.

Mars in Leo is courageous, fun loving and extremely gifted. They will take on challenges that most people feel are impossible. Their zest for life is infectious.

Not everyone enjoys their brashness, but they cannot help but be drawn to them. With their larger than life personalities, they truly stand out from the rest of the crowd.

They are born leaders and responsible for any situation they find themselves in. Their life goal is to be in charge of everything and they will do whatever it takes to make that happen. They are determined, disciplined, authoritative, very creative, sensual and charming. Rewarding for their big heart and natural talents is very important too.

Learn more about Mars in Leo

Mars in Virgo

Mars in Virgo individuals are methodical, discriminating and a bit analytical. They love to dig into specifics, scrutinize, question and diagnose. They have a need for clarity and precision and can become frustrated if they feel others are not paying attention to details or if there is any confusion in their environment.

They also have an innate sense of fairness or equity and can be very sensitive to injustice in any form; they may devote time and energy to making sure that everyone follows the rules, abides by agreements, or is aware of any consequences related to their behavior.

Mars in Virgo is one of the most intense, single-minded, and focused individuals you will ever meet. They are competent and receptive to new ideas, but they rarely take the initiative to implement these ideas. Achieving success with this placement requires effort, organization, determination, and a workaholic attitude.

This placement can make you meticulous, hardworking, focused, fretful and nervous. As a Mars-in-Virgo individual you are the consummate perfectionist and your drive to be outstanding is connected to a highly developed sense of duty and responsibility.

You strive for complete control over your domain, whether it’s your own personal space or a business project, and you are constantly making adjustments when you feel that what you’ve accomplished isn’t perfect enough.

Mars in Virgo individuals have excellent detail and workmanship. They may be exacting, painstaking, perfectionist, fussy and fastidious. Very neat and orderly. Methods are more important than ideas to this Virgo Mars person.

This placement may express itself in the mannerisms of a photographer, or a jeweler or an embroiderer. The desire to do as good a job as possible is a recognized trait of this Mars in Virgo individual. Because of this the Virgo Mars person should select his/her profession carefully.

In terms of love, the Mars in Virgo native is more interested in a peaceful relationship than an exciting one. This sign can sometimes be too rational, scaring away potential partners by appearing to be cold and unfeeling.

Mars in Virgo people are constantly striving to improve themselves. It’s not enough for them to be intelligent. They need to be the smartest person in the room. They can become obsessed with staying fit and healthy to realize their full potential, but this can quickly turn into an unhealthy lifestyle filled with long hours at the gym and a restrictive diet.

Learn more about Mars in Virgo

Mars in Libra

The Mars in Libra personality is that of the diplomat, always preferring what’s easy, neutral and peaceable. They never strike out at anyone, always willing to make a compromise, and are not usually confrontational.

Their rational nature wants them to see both sides and find the middle road. Mars in Libra love to be fair and encourages others to reach peaceful solutions.

Mars in Libra traits are characterized by a love of social interaction, an appreciation for cleanliness and beauty, and an effort to balance oneself internally. They are creative and productive yet indecisive and timid, or practical and diplomatic yet sensitive and inconsistent. They are sympathetic to others' feelings but can be manipulative.

People born with Mars in this sign are often known as diplomats. They have an innate understanding of other people, and can converse with grace, style and confidence. Sweet, charming and very good at negotiating, they will walk into any social situation and leave behind a trail of happy friends.

Learn more about Mars in Libra

Mars in Scorpio

Mars in Scorpio people are intense, secretive, seductive, and magnetic. Scorpio traits include a stubbornness to succeed or to reform, as well as an unusual capacity to adapt to any condition for the attainment of their objectives. A Mars in Scorpio person is a natural ruler with an excellent ability to lead others.

Mars in Scorpio individuals are passionate, intense and stubborn. They value personal power and will do whatever it takes to make their mark in life. There’s no room for second place in their mind; they want to be number one at everything they do.

Mars in Scorpio people are incredibly resourceful and ingenious when they set their minds to a task. These people know how to “dig deep” to get what they want and generally will succeed. Their emotions run deep, which is why these folks can play on your deepest fears, desires, and emotions knowing you better than you know yourself.

If you have Mars in Scorpio, you’ve a passionate core and the resilience to make it through the worst. With this placement, you’ll always go all out before giving up. People born with Mars in Scorpio tend to be resolute daredevils who don’t mind sacrifices—the dangerous and scary kind.

Mars in Scorpio is noted for being a very resourceful person. By resourceful it means they are likely to take responsibility for their own actions even when they know they could have left something undone.

They will strive to become better at everything, especially if there is something that they have not quite mastered yet. This can be seen in the way that they usually respond to criticism by looking within themselves to see if there is any merit to what the other person was saying.

This person is strong and solid with a penetrating wit. They may have trouble trusting others, but they are well worth getting to know.

The Mars sign, also called the Sign of Action and Initiative, shows how we react to pressure and are able to push forward when many others would retreat. It is the sign that makes us brave, energetic in having a voice, and proactive instead of reactive.

Mars in Scorpio energy involves a strong desire or need to get to the bottom of something, to find out the truth no matter the cost. If there is anything hidden that they’re your belief system it will cause you to react with deep emotional intensity causing a substantial response by its nature.

Learn more about Mars in Scorpio

Mars in Sagittarius

The Mars in Sagittarius personality is a fun-loving and extremely sociable person. To others, he may seem like a heroic figure and is always willing to put himself out there and make friends with everyone. But for these individuals, their heart really isn’t into it.

They will go through the motions and stick around for a good time but will turn around as soon as the fun and excitement come to an end. They are fond of meeting new people, going on trips, spending money on others, and seeking out adventure.

Mars in Sagittarius is warm, adventure-seeking, action-loving, optimistic and cheerful. This fiery Mars placement gives you a self-confident, pioneering spirit, since you are an independent thinker, having your own ideas and direction that no one else does. Your life force and drive help you to pursue your own dreams and goals in life.

Mars in Sagittarius is a typically forward-thinking, optimistic, and active individual who has a keen eye for detail. Outside of work, he loves to get away from it all and travel the globe.

The fire and motivation he has in his personal life is transferred over into the workplace. Mars in Sagittarius has a talent for coming up with novel ideas for improving a given task. He’s highly motivated to accomplish anything that he sets his mind to do and will stop at nothing until its goals have been reached.

Mars rules the fire signs of Aries and Sagittarius. His needs are spontaneity, change, variety and the freedom to say whatever he thinks. His passions include athletics, competitive activities, risk-taking, gambling and new experiences.

Sagittarius has a fiery, expansive vitality that makes it hard to resist. Audacious, sincere and honest, you radiate a sense of purpose that makes people trust you and follow you.

As a Mars in Sagittarius, you see the big picture and strive for the highest ideals. You can be competitive, combative and proud. Your pride, however, is not that of vanity – rather, it is because you’re a warrior committed to staying on course with your vision of the truth.

This placement can provide a lot of inspiration and energy. It indicates a life of action, new worlds to conquer, passion, fire and inspiration!

Learn more about Mars in Sagittarius

Mars in Capricorn

Mars in Capricorn people are ambitious, purposeful but reserved. They are dedicated, sincere and conservative; stand firm with determination and self-discipline. They like to have a high level of order around them and like to be consistent in their habits and routines. Also solid, stable and reliable!

These natives can be coldly ambitious people who easily gain advantage. As a Mars sign, they are action oriented. They can be assertive, intolerant and willful, depending on the situation.

Mars in Capricorn people are born leaders. They take control in any situation, set direction and make decisions. They can be critical people who tend to be evaluative of others. Capricorn Mars tends to keep emotions private, playing it safe.

The Mars in Capricorn person is more disciplined and hard working than the Mars in Aries person. While we don’t recommend you become a workaholic, you will be highly motivated. The Mars in Capricorn person will do whatever it takes to succeed and bring results to their efforts.

People with this placement have high goals and a strong sense of purpose. They usually have a certain maturity and presence, which comes from their ability to apply themselves and their talents to their various projects.

On the surface, Mars in Capricorn is serious, responsible and ambitious. At its best, Mars in Capricorn is responsible and hardworking. You’ll take on tasks that others think are too much work - the bigger the challenge, the bigger the win.

Learn more about Mars in Capricorn

Mars in Aquarius

Mars is the planet of action, drive and ambition. Aquarius is all about being in the future and inspired by new ideas. Mars in Aquarius gives you an insatiable appetite for challenges so you can make a real difference and leave your mark on the world.

The Mars in Aquarius personality is typically a very different character. They are very friendly, outgoing and altruistic people who are always willing to help the neighbors. These individuals are mystifyingly cheerful and willing to please almost everyone at any given time, making them extremely popular with their peers.

Although this is not always the case for all people born with this Mars placement, it is quite prevalent because of the way that they deal with most situations. However, when these individuals don’t get along or affiliate themselves with others; conflicts are likely to occur.

Mars in Aquarius personalities are cool, progressive thinkers. They’re usually tolerant, friendly and highly intelligent. They have strong humanitarian ideals and enjoy working with the public.

These candidates for the Nobel Prize have a natural talent for science. Although they seek out fame, they need to overcome shyness and be willing to be the center of attention. Their ruling planet is erratic Mars, which plays an important role in their success. It also qualifies them to be great investigators involved with odd accidents or mysterious situations.

Mars in Aquarius people are innovative and inventive. They have a great humanitarian spirit and commitment to the greater good of mankind. Their forward-thinking nature makes them high-tech pioneers, technical experts and inventors.

With Mars in Aquarius you are a fiery, independent, and eccentric person who is quite the opposite of conservative. This is a combination of Mars, the planet of action and initiative, in an Air sign and Pluto, planet of transformations, in an Air sign.

You are an unpredictable, independent individual. You have a strong presence in any area of your life; this includes work, home, and social settings.

Learn more about Mars in Aquarius

Mars in Pisces

The Mars in Pisces personality has some very marked characteristics. This is the person who is at the beck and call of everyone they know.

Mars, the planet that rules our basic passions, forces, urges, drives and initiative is in the sign of the fish! That has to say something. These individuals have a great deal of energy. They are highly creative individuals who love the mystery of life and can usually be found in artistic pursuits as well as anything mystical or mysterious.

Mars in Pisces is about romanticism, daydreaming and spirituality. They are idealistic, sensitive and psychic. There is a deep connection with nature and the past, so they like to spend time in graveyards, sea-cliffs, woods or sitting by a pond or river.

This is a sympathetic placement for anyone who has been the underdog and Mars in Pisces often identify with those less fortunate than themselves.

Mars in Pisces people are very psychic. So psychic that they can sense love coming their way and pursue that person a little too vigorously, or take up more psychic topics than they know about.

You seek harmony between yourself and the people around you, as well as the society at large. Your pacifism is genuine, and you find it difficult to compromise your beliefs. You are passionate and emotional, but can be very shy, especially in new situations.

Mars is the God of War and Dreams, while Pisces is an epic archetype of self-sacrifice. Mars in Pisces vibrates with the energy of instant healing, channeling action through compassion.

Mars in the sign of Pisces is passionate and sensitive. This Mars placement can serve as a bridge between your conscious and unconscious mind and bring to light things that you have long forgotten.

These folks tend to be especially good at artistic endeavors, forms of healing like massage or acupuncture, and careers in which they work with children or animals, such as teaching, social work, domestic work with kids, etc.

These are people with very deep hidden emotions and feelings. They tend to experience more of their emotional reality than other signs of the Zodiac.

Learn more about Mars in Pisces

Now It's Your Turn

And now I’d like to hear from you.

What is your Mars sign?

What does this placement say about your physical appearance, desire, or passion?

Please leave a comment below and let me know.

Better Relationships in Just 4 Minutes a Day

This newsletter is not just good - it delivers the best relationship advice to your inbox every week. Join thousands of subscribers discovering how to find love and improve their relationships with ease.

Don't miss the chance to add your name to the list before the next edition goes live. If you want to take advantage of this opportunity, simply click the below to access our secure sign-up page.

Sign Up Today
About the Author:
Ryan Hart

Ryan Hart is a certified relationship coach and writer. His mission is to help make connections between people better, stronger, more meaningful, and longer lasting using technology.

Want to connect with Ryan? Click here to join his FREE weekly newsletter

Better Relationships in Just 4 Minutes a Week

The best relationship advice — in your inbox — every Monday.

Join 1,000+ subscribers