Around 20-21 of March Sun moves to the cardinal point of 00 Aries ready to start its journey through the symbolic wheel of life divided into 12 archetypal forces. Since time immemorial, people, being wise observers of the natural world, has worshiped this unquenchable force that has been mysteriously injected into Mother Nature’s veins, year after year. How does it come that tiny, often hardly visible seed suddenly shoots up with so tremendous strength that is capable to break trough the dark vast layers of soil in search for the light?

     The first root grows down and everything that seems to be an obstacle, is simply irrelevant. This particular life-giving impulse has been a matter of fascination and awe held by those, for who the Nature was the main life’s teacher. Millennium after millennium, the association of willpower as the foundation of any form of life was energetically filling the boundless psychic space of collective unconsciousness. Thanks to this process, the creative fiery spark gained it’s special place within the human psyche, inaugurating the zodiac wheel, and thus, becoming the very originator of life and its processes described by the 11 following signs.

     This mysterious stimulating force serves as a catalyst to bring various forms to manifestation, being it a living plant, a body cell, a project, or an idea. No matter the level upon which this basic drive is operating, its intensity more then often require some sort of regulation.

     Those who are passionate about gardening, know too well that this overwhelming force of life needs to be held in control, so the final harvest can be successful. Like the main role of a gardener is to become a wise distributor of the life force among his/her plants, so the role of creative thinker is to rule over its ceaseless flow of ideas, feeding with attention only the brightest concepts.

     For people born with prominent Aries energy to rule over this creative impulse might be particularly challenging, as this fiery force is not concerned at all with the consequences of its constant flow. As the plant rushes to the light, so the thought burst forth from the mind wanting to be manifested.

     To tame this force and to fashion it with wise directions is one of the most difficult task that human being will be confronted with during his/her life time.

     Esoteric astrology distinguishes two different levels of maturity while dealing with Aries energy. For most of us, Mars is the planetary ruler of this archetype, as we are still mostly controlled by our unconscious emotional patterns. Hence, our willpower to assert ourselves will be colored – to some degree- with impulsivity and desire to create and dominate the material form. Like the seed establishes its roots to secure successful growth, so the individual personality needs to assert itself within the world of matter in order to manifest his/her own true colors. Yet, when the essence is already known, the emotional attachment to form starts to dissolve. Mars traditional rulership becomes substituted with the mental principle represented by Mercury, esoteric ruler of Aries. Then, the creative fire of desire becomes replaced with the one of aspiration to direct one’s life force towards the greater good. The energy that has driven one to strike out frantically into life, now gains more focused direction, as its flow is controlled and distributed by mental refined qualities represented by the Mercury, instead of instinctive impulse, Mars.

MARS

     Since ancient times, this creative impulse was symbolically associated with the red planet, endowing it with attributes of mythological God of War, Mars. Consequently, traditional astrology metaphorically enthroned Mars as a planetary ruler of Aries, filling this fiery archetype with the meaning that seem to be directly taken from the battlefield. Actually, there is nothing surprising about it, as the style of how humanity has been asserting itself through the vast part of its recent history points directly to the fights, wars and ceaseless conquests. The War-driven Romans had the tradition to start their battles in March, fashioning their violent polices with the life impulse spreading all over the natural world. In this case, the creative force that makes new life possible, was used as an inspiration to act upon desires of territorial expansion. The word “Mars” is etymologically connected with the word “Mare”, the sea, that is one of the esoteric symbols of our uncontrolled emotionality. Therefore, Mars, at its its lowest expression, is like the desire-fueled engine that automatically pushes us into fulfilling our dreams and fighting for what we are emotionally attached to within the material plane.

     At this point, it is an energy of an eternal conqueror who blindly surrenders to his own basic drives, paying no attention to the surrounding world. Being confronted, his energy turns into aggression, as his drive to act upon desire cannot be stopped. It can only escalate clothing itself in diversity of methods of release. Violence is one of the easiest options.

     Due to association of Mars with our primal instincts, very often its placement within the individual birth chart is interpreted as our sexuality and the style with which we tend to conquest the world. In another words, Mars shows our individual direction towards which we aim to use this intense creative impulse; what are our actions aimed for? Is it sex, our own emotional security, other people’s recognition, or perhaps our conscious actions are oriented towards more spiritual pursue?

     Traditional astrology tends to label Mars’s location as unfortunate if not related with the energy associated with power, domination and masculinity. Since astrology, over the last centuries, was written by a man to a fellow man, the use of Martian drive to -for example- surrender, was seen not only as inappropriate but also as disastrous. Hence, Mars “falls” in driven by compassion Pisces, or is in “detriment” in known by its balance-obsession Libra. However, regardless the value assigned by patriarchal narratives, the field of life that motivates us to take action, described by the natal placement of Mars, is crafted with the astonishing precision as the one of the puzzles of the greater picture that allows us to become fulfilled in life. It does not really matter, if it is oriented to sexual pleasure, worldly success or perhaps to inner emotional self-defense, as long as it is used with control and with conscious approach according to one’s own archetypal life’s map.

MERCURY

     In medical astrology, Aires represents the head, as it is the host of mind’s physical container, the brain. This is the birthplace of ideas, a physical seat of all our mental processes originated as a literal mixture of low-charged electric impulses dispersed all over the brain. Mercury rulership of Aries emphasizes the strength of human mind as vehicle for the greatest ideas to become manifested. It also accentuates the mind’s role as a main quality that separates us from the animal kingdom exclusively ruled by instincts.

     When Mercury takes Martian place as the Aries esoteric ruler, the power of mind receives all the qualities of the initiating life force, like one-pointed direction, intensity and enormous willpower to become manifested. The work of mind becomes the main driving force, allowing the voice of intuition to be the righteous guide. At this stage, individual in no longer ruled by her/his instinctive responsiveness, as he/she is able to hold emotions in check. The mind takes over, serving as the illuminating principle of individual’s path. Its light draws a clear line between the two levels of consciousness; the one colored by unconscious urges, and the other characterized by deeper reflection and empathy.

     When Martian waters of instincts and impulsiveness are replaced with the mental waters of intelligence, the creative spark of Aries, instead of blindly rushing into the next battle, serves as a vehicle to bring harmony and peace. This is the moment, when the energy of anger, so familiar for many Aries personalities, gains a new direction and – through the use of mind- its intensity is channeled to serve higher than one’s own ego purposes.

     Mercury in its role as a true “Messenger of the Gods” becomes a symbolic mediator between the Mind of God and the one of the man, planting within the latter the seeds originated from the former. However, to succeed the idea’s further growth, one needs to allow intuition to nourish own mental processes. The intuitive mental plane is the highest expression of power hidden in the human mind, becoming the true signature of a genius.

     Albert Einstein’s chart is an great illustration of Mercury role as an esoteric ruler of Aries. Its conjunction with Saturn, adds great levels of responsibility for bringing forth new concepts and forging new models of reality. To “rule from the plane of mind” was his duty (Saturn), through which he transformed the concept of relativity (North Node in Aquarius in 8 house). Einstein himself held intuition in way greater esteem then the works of rational and calculative mind. Many times he acknowledged its essential role in any creative process:

“One who scorns the power of intuition will never rise above the ranks of journeyman calculator (…). The only real valuable thing is intuition. The intellect has little to do on the road to discovery”

     Except his groundbreaking theories, Einstein is also known for being one of the most outspoken activists for peace and social justice. In his booklet “The world that I see it” he ponders upon the foundations of righteous human relationships, exposing himself as a passionate advocate for harmony in the world of eternal conflict. One of the statements that exceptionally sums up the Mercurial rulership of Aries comes right form his book:

“A man’s value depends primarily on how far his feelings, thoughts, and actions are directed towards promoting the good of his fellows”

JOHN LENNON’S DISARMAMENT

     Essentially, our natal birth chart is a symbolic illustration of our greatest potential; its astrological symbolism displayed in the form of mandala serves us as a map of our inner territories pinpointing beautiful valleys, but also the most gloomy and dangerous precipices. Some people spend their lives on the very edges of that dark cliffs, so they can transform their haunting shadows into light. John Lennon’s path symbolically delineated on his individual life’s map is of this particular kind. Esoterically interpreted, Lennon’s life is a great example of how Mars rulership of Aries might be gradually replaced with the Mercurial one. Actually, his chart clearly suggests that the elevation of Aries energy to its highest aspect, by turning violence into message of peace, was the main aspiration of the Lennon’s soul. Naturally, the question rises if he actually managed to do that.

     John Lennon was born in the powerful eclipse season with Sun/North Node being conjunct in Libra. Coming to world with such strong Libra signature suggests that the soul had it already pretty clear that this lifetime will be about finding balance between the lower instinctive aspects of one’s personality and the soul’s highest purpose to do good.

     Also, there’s strong urgency emanating form Sun/NN conjunction, as if the Lennon’s soul was truly determined to embrace and resolve the inner conflict in that particular lifetime. The task of reaching balance might seems quite trivial, but when we look closely into Lennon’s soul’s past, it becomes clearer, why so much emphasis was put into search for inner (and consequently outer) peace.

     John Lennon came to this world with an sort of obscure sense of willpower. His karmic baggage (South Node) conjunct Black Moon Lilith (BML), being located in the 12th house Aries may refer to some past lives of becoming a victim of one’s own unrestrained impulsiveness and possible imprudence. The presence of BML accentuates a certain feeling of shame that overshadows soul’s past, but it may also be a sign of a prolonged (spread over many incarnations) extreme guilt that has been consciously fended off and neglected. Mars, the ruler of South Node in Aries, being placed in 6th house Libra, may vaguely suggest some scenarios where humiliation (6th house) was an essential part of a picture. To loose one’s sense of dignity by being involved in abusive relationship was somewhat not an unknown experience for John’s soul. However, the dynamic supporting his Mars by sextile/trine inscribed in his chart (Pluto in Leo conjunct Chiron in opposition to the Moon in the 10th house Aquarius), tends toward the role of a perpetrator rather then the one of a victim.

     Generally speaking, karma is a habit. It creates a pattern, that is pretty hard to simply break and reorganize without rehearsal. Our “past-deeds” follow us as inborn tendencies awaiting our awareness to be able to realize their heavy weight. Only when consciously acknowledged, our behavioral habits might be erased or gradually transformed. John Lennon’s life was definitely not an exception form that rule.

     The stories of John’s impulsive and violent behavior are not a secret, especially for the Beatles fans. There are many of them who actually blame John’s recklessness for the final break-up of the group, although there has been a lot of numerous factors causing the split. However, one of John’s sudden outbursts of uncontrollable rage almost finished the group before the band really got started. Yet, on the other hand, it helped John to literally face his monsters. Hence, it triggered his quest for peace.

     In June 1963, Lennon has spent alone several days of holidays with Beatles manager Brian Epstein, whose homosexuality – despite of being against the law in UK at that time – was not a hush-hush matter at all. Consequently, the gossip and numerous jokes arose about John being gay. The incident that happened on Paul McCartney’s birthday party on 18th of June was caused precisely by a innocent joke, yet the effect was definitely not so jolly as initially planned. Bob Wooler, a close friend of the band started to joke around with John saying: “Come on John, what really happened with you and Brian? Everybody knows anyway, so tell us!.” As a response, in a blind rage, John proceeded to beat the stuffing out of a very surprised Wooler, literally kicking him repeatedly in the ribs as he lay on the ground in a bloody heap. John was a heavy drinker at that time, what only heated up suddenly-inflated aggression. This huge outburst of violence has shocked many, but the one who was most dismayed by it was actually Lennon himself: “I realized I was actually going to kill him… I just saw it like a screen. If I hit him once more, that’s really going to be it. I really got shocked and for the first time thought: ‘I can kill this guy.’”

     At that particular day, transiting Jupiter was conjunct Lennon’s karmic baggage (South Node), inflating his repressed savage side that needed to be addressed. Extremely powerful Pluto/Mars conjunction in Virgo was in sextile to John’s Mercury, pushing him to the limits of his darkness, so the conscious realization might have taken roots. As transiting Nodal Axis was in exact square to his Ascendant, it was more than obvious that this sudden outburst had a potential of changing his life forever. In one interview, when being reminded about his outrageous beating, Lennon admitted “It was the last fight I ever got into. That’s when I gave up violence, because all my life I’d been like that.”

     And indeed, during his life, John has had a serious problem with domestic violence and emotional abuse, that he shied away from. He decided to speak about it openly in one of his last interviews:

“All that ‘I used to be cruel to my woman, I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved’ was me. I used to be cruel to my woman, and physically – any woman. I was a hitter. I couldn’t express myself and I hit. I fought men and I hit women. (…) I am violent man who has learned not to be violent and regrets his violence. I will have to be a lot older before I can face in public how I treated women as a youngster. (…)

    That is why I am always on about peace, you see. It is the most violent people who go for love and peace. Everything’s the opposite. But I sincerely believe in love and peace.”

     That particular honesty, with which Lennon managed to size up his life few months before his tragic death, beautifully sums up the higher aspiration of his soul. In esoteric astrology, that higher motivation is illustrated by the rising sign, and as Lennon was born with the Aries rising, to give a wise and controlled direction to one’s own power, was the true pinnacle of his life.

     Being unconsciously imprinted with sense of guilt related with past possible abuse of one’s strength, now it was time to learn how to use it correctly by uplifting and inspiring rather then conquering and degrading.

     Esoteric ruler of Aries, Mercury, is placed in 7th house, Scorpio, what tells us that relationships (7th house) was meant to be an intense testing ground for Lennon’s willpower. Esoterically, Mercury symbolizes the process of reaching harmony through conflict and by being colored by Scorpio’s transformative drive, it has definitely worked in Lennon’s life as a main force of personal reorientation. It also forms an apex of energetically tense aspect of t-square with Pluto/Chiron in Leo opposing Moon in Aquarius, what infuses Lennon’s inner battle with passionate political activism. John’s relationship with Yoko not only turned him into an iconic advocate of world’s peace, but, mostly, it allowed him to profoundly re-evaluate his use of willpower and to finally channel it towards the greater good.

     Consequently, Lennon turned from being an aggressor into an harbinger of harmony. Obviously, only his soul knows how successful he became in his journey, yet the attempts of shift from Mars rulership of Aries to the Mercurial one could not have been more pronounced. Especially, knowing that to master his will was his soul’s main purpose for this lifetime (Aries rising).

     Whole Lennon’s life seems to revolve around the problem of violence. His soul, throughout all John’s life to its very end, tells us the story about the dangers of recklessness and uncontrolled impulsiveness, whose effects John had to directly experience on various levels. Eventually, his own death was caused by an impetuous act of violence sealing his life with the timeless message about meaninglessness of aggression.

Artwork: Osmar Schindler,
"Young Warrior with Helmet"
/ oil on canvas / 1902