Mars-Neptune

Mars-Neptune combines the action, athleticism, and drive of Mars with the water, idealization, image, and spirituality of Neptune.

Challenging sides of this combination include the passive (Neptune) aggressive (Mars) acts, or the unclear (Neptune) goals (Mars). Ultimately this combination wants our drives (Mars) to be fluid (Neptune) and aligned with the flow (Neptune) of nature. Thus this combination is associated with the spiritual (Neptune) warrior (Mars).

Below are examples of famous people born with this combination in their natal charts (natal chart is another word for astrological birth chart, or pictographic representation of the sky when they were born). When we witness how this combination shows up in the lives of others, we can become more self-aware of how this combination shows up in our own lives. The more we are conscious of the ways astrological alignments (otherwise known as “aspects”) show up in our lives, the more the archetypal tensions involved can become integrated in our lives, thus revealing inherent strengths to us.

Please note that the tension of this archetypal combination, as illustrated in the lives and creations of the famous people in the examples below, may be demonstrated in ways that are more integrated or less integrated.

 

 

  • The Mars-Neptune combination creates a dynamic in which dreams, beliefs and faith (Neptune) are a impetus for action (Mars). Singer Diana Ross demonstrates this dynamic of the Mars/Neptune combination in her chart in the following quotes: “You can't just sit there and wait for people to give you that golden dream. You've got to get out there and make it happen for yourself.” “If I have someone who believes in me, I can move mountains.” “You know, you do need mentors, but in the end, you really just need to believe in yourself.”

 

  • The Mars-Neptune combination can show up as action or battle (Mars) spurred on by image (Neptune). Singer Rod Stewart exemplifies this dynamic in his chart with the following quote: “Half the battle is selling music, not singing it. It's the image, not what you sing.”

  • When one is born with Mars and Neptune together we see Mar’s action-oriented tendency toward bravery and conflict combined with the water-like and spiritual qualities of Neptune. In the world of martial arts this combination can be commonly seen; it lends a sort of flowing ballet-like beauty to the art of fighting. Quentin Tarantino, director of the “Kill Bill” volume, his famous homage to martial arts movies, was born with Mars and Neptune combined, as was Uma Thurman, the lead heroine assassin in the film series, and her co-star Vivika A. Fox.  Multiple members of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan were born with Mars and Neptune in combination. Their allegiance to martial arts is a consistent theme strung throughout their songs. A champion of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), Khabib Nurmagomedov, was born with Mars and Neptune combined. This combination is not without its challenges. The watery infinitude associated with Neptune can allow the pugnacious quality of Mars to bleed into inappropriate areas of life, causing problems. In the case of Khabib Nurmagomedov we saw this when he beat his opponent in his championship match and then leapt into the crowd and started a fight, causing a riot to break out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duuH3s1blzI A way to address this “leaky” (Neptune) aggression (Mars) is by integrating the spiritual (Neptune) side of Mars. Aikido is revered as perhaps one of the most flowing and spiritually-based of the martial arts traditions. It’s founder, Morihei Ueshiba, was born when Mars and Neptune were together. He was a wonderful example of the spiritual (Neptune) warrior (Mars): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZcDc1ZYEgw&t=83s

  • The RZA, founding member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, was born with the Mars/Neptune combination in his birth chart. Sifu Shi Yan Ming, Founder and Abbot of the USA Shaolin Temple, and Kung-Fu teacher to the RZA, remarks of the RZA’s Kung-Fu skills, “Fantastic! Beautiful! How could it be otherwise? He’s the RZA…His spirit drives his actions…” Here we see the spirit (Neptune) behind the action (Mars).

  • To an extent the archetype of Mars is associated with masculinity, and the archetype of Neptune is associated with idealization. With this combination we can see the idealized masculine, in people such as Ryan Gosling, born with this combination in his natal chart, and Javier Bardem, also born with this combination in his natal chart.

  • The Mars/Neptune combination in the natal chart of Russian literary giant, Leo Tolstoy, can be seen in the multiple scenes within his epic masterpiece, War and Peace, in which he asserts that battles (Mars) are not won by strategy, they are won according to the quality of inspiration felt by, and spirit shown by (Neptune), the soldiers themselves.

  • The Mars/Neptune combination sometimes shows up as an action principle (Mars) that has the yielding quality of water (Neptune). The spiritual teacher Jiddu Krishnamurti was born with Neptune at the Sun/Mars midpoint in his natal chart. His ability to show how there is wisdom in yielding to the movement of thought in such a way that we do not get caught in identifying with thought and thus getting caught up in more thought and more thinking: https://youtu.be/WhVkmmlw6Nw?t=467

  • The Mars/Neptune combination can also be reflected as action (Mars) that is spiritual in nature (Neptune). The Indian saint, Sri Anandamayi Ma, who was born with this combination in her birth chart, demonstrates this principle in the following quotes:

“In all forms, in action and non-action is He, the One Himself. While attending to your work with your hands, keep yourself bound to Him by sustaining japa, the constant remembrance of Him in your heart and mind.”

“By doing service heart and mind are purified -- be convinced of this.”