Precursor to Saturn-Mars Conjunction

Mars in Aquarius without reception from Saturn can flare things up and blow them out of proportion, which has been the case for the most part. Mars in Pisces, however, is an entirely different expression altogether. Without going into the mundane aspects, I am going to strictly discuss only the personal dimensions of what Mars in Pisces can offer.

Mars, considered as the planet of war, can easily be taken very literally, and within that unidimensional vision, it is easy to forget the purpose of Mars and of war itself. Drawing from references in the Ṛgveda, Mars can be associated with Indra, the king of the gods, who is praised across the Vedic texts as a figure who expresses aggression in order to restore abundance. When the dragon obstructs the waters from entering the village, Indra strikes it with the thunderbolt, releasing the waters from their blockage, allowing them to flow into the village and give rise to the growth of crops and natural abundance for humanity.

Mars’ aggression has a cause and should have a cause.

Mars with Rāhu, however, can indicate aggression arising out of sheer madness, without a clear cause. This can speak to our personal internal expressions, our inhibitions, and the inner battles that we may have experienced over the past month while Mars and Rāhu were co-present in Aquarius. We may have encountered situations where we could not quite understand why we were experiencing a certain confrontation within ourselves.

In my own situation, I experienced considerable back-and-forth in terms of creative decisions with my upcoming book, Foundations & Frameworks of Indian Astrology–Vol 1. I had to give up my favourite font because it did not render Sanskrit diacritics well, which is extremely important for the book. This led me to move to another font after seven years of using the same one across all my work. At one level, I knew I simply had to give it up and move on quickly, but I found myself channelling energy into something that should have been a straightforward decision. This is what often happens during Mars–Rāhu conjunction periods. We end up focusing on an obsession that eventually does not lead to a meaningful outcome.

This does not mean that everyone would have experienced the same situation, but if we take a casual moment of self-reflection over the past month, there may have been something similar, though expressed in a different and unique way in each of our lives. If you experienced something along these lines, I would be glad to hear from you.

Mars in Pisces can feel like a response to the Mars–Rāhu conjunction in Aquarius, but we do not need to carry it as a burden.

Mars in Pisces indicates that we need to turn our attention towards the emotional dimensions of our lives, not necessarily in relation to others, but in relation to our own inner self. During this transit, it becomes important to safeguard our inner space, our emotional apparatus, and to ensure that we do not place ourselves in situations where we feel emotionally drained or challenged. This is not about running away from situations, but about consciously choosing to step away from circumstances when we can afford to do so. Alternatively, it is also a time to channel our energy slowly but deliberately towards what is truly important in our lives at this point in time.

With Mars entering Pisces, it is also important to remember that Mars will be co-present with Saturn in Pisces. Mars and Saturn together can indicate a draining of energy, and Pisces can signify emotional energy. It therefore becomes absolutely necessary to remain mindful of our choices during this phase. My advice would be to avoid straying from our calendrical plans, because deviation now can easily lead to accumulation. Straying away will not only drain us physically, but also emotionally, as we may find ourselves engaged in action when we ought to be tending to our inner self.

I will write more about the Mars–Saturn conjunction closer to the event, but for now, Mars in Pisces is a time to consciously remain away from conflict, and to ensure that we are, as far as possible, in situations that feel supportive and steady.

Mars will move relatively quickly through Pūrvabhādrapadā, but Uttarabhādrapadā becomes important, as Mars will conjoin Saturn there. There is a moment in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers where Gandalf, upon reuniting with Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, speaks of how something is about to unfold that has not occurred since the elder days. The arrival of Merry and Pippin into the Forest of Fangorn is described as the falling of small stones upon a mountain, which will eventually give rise to an avalanche. This culminates in the rise and the last march of the Ents, leading to the destruction of Isengard and the fall of Saruman.

To get an idea of what I am referring to, please watch this video from 5:21 to 5:45.

In a similar way, Uttarabhādrapadā, associated with Ahirbudhnya, the deep and hidden serpent of the waters, can be seen as a space where something within us is slowly stirred.

The entry of Mars into this nakṣatra may act as a trigger, not in the form of overt aggression, but as an opportunity to awaken something within us that is both deep and defining. It speaks not only to how we present ourselves to the world, but also to how we come to understand ourselves.

Saturn’s presence in Uttarabhādrapadā can gradually tilt the balance in our favour, provided we remain aligned with what we are meant to do. Mars, in this context, acts as the force that allows us to turn the rudder more swiftly, not through force or confrontation, but through quiet, deliberate action carried out behind the scenes, making careful use of time.

This period calls for us to remain as conflict-free as possible, not as an act of avoidance, but as a means of preserving our energy, so that we may remain productive and, more importantly, connected to ourselves in a more authentic and meaningful way.