As long as war is regarded as wicked it will
always have its fascinations. When it is
looked upon as vulgar, it will cease to be popular.
Oscar Wilde
I wasn't sure what the topic of this week's
chart of the week would be until I saw the movie "Black Hawk Down".
It was then clear that this week's talisman should be a talisman of
Mars.
In the traditional (pre-1700) world view, in which
astrology played a prominent role, the concept of Order was paramount. For them
war was not proof as it is to a modern existentialist of meaningless evil in a
random world, but an essential part of Cosmic Order. Tillyard quotes a prayer
to Mars from Chaucer's "Knight's Tale",
"O great corrector of enormous times,
Shaker of o'er-rank states, thou grand decider
Of dusty and old titles, that heal'st with blood
The earth when it is sick, and cur'st the world
O' the pleurisy of people."
E.M.W. Tillyard, The Elizabethan World Picture, page 7.
It is clear that Mars embodies the Platonic or Divine
Idea of war, strife and struggle.
His classification as a malefic indicates both
the traditional and modern view of the evils of war. Yet, as the English astrologer
William Lilly says, Mars when well dignified signifies a person,
"In feats of Warre and Courage invincible, scourning
any should exceed him, subject to no Reason, Bold, Confident, Immoveable, Contentious,
challenging all Honour to themselves, Valiant, lovers of Warre and things pertaining
thereunto, hazarding himself to all Perils, willingly will obey no body; nor submit to
any, a large reporter of his own Acts, one that fights all things in comparison of
Victory, and yet of prudent behaviour in his own affaires."
Christian Astrology, page 66.
Mars is so associated with men that the modern symbol
for maleness is the ancient symbol of Mars. We would do well to remember, however, that
each of us is a microcosm, a little world, containing all seven of the traditional planets
and that Mars, and indeed, strife and war, is contained in humanity and not just men.
Margaret Thatcher, for example, who led Britain to victory in the Falklands War, was
clearly very Martial. We might also consider the ancient archetype of the Amazons, female
warriors, recorded by the Greek historian Herodotos.
Those who wish to practice traditional astrology must
cultivate an understanding of the Divine Ideas embodied in the
planet Mars in the Celestial World and
scattered throughout the items ruled by Mars in the Material World.
Those who
wish to practice traditional astrological magic
must be in contact with the Martial in their own spirit and soul and the Soul and
Spirit of the World.
One could do worse than going to see the rather harrowing
"Black Hawk Down" and recognizing its Martial essence without either glorifying
it or condemning it.
The time elected for construction of
the Mars talisman is January 28, 2002 at 4:02 pm EST
in Washington, D.C. 38 N 56 77 W 03. At this time Mars is dignified
by sign and face and is well placed in the Midheaven.
The Moon trines Mars and while she
separates from him, she is still in the same degree. In addition,
it is the planetary hour
of Mars.
Here is further information on
Astrological Talismans
and Astrological Magic. If you
wish to delve even deeper into this fascinating area I offer an
Astrological Magic Web Course
as well as a traditional astrology and astrological magic discussion
group Spiritus Mundi.