This aspects are easily described with two words – the big bang. Before we get into details: For the Mars-Pluto conjunction, square, opposition we would give an orb of about 5 degrees, strongest felt 0-3. Remember if someone’s Pluto is aspecting your Mars it is likely everyone within that age group will also have their Pluto in aspect. How the two partners work together does not depend solely on Mars-Pluto hard aspects but other connections between the luminaries and the inner planets. If you prefer the video version:
If a platonic or a romantic relationship is actually established you can expect some fireworks! It will be quite a challenging experience with strong magnetism between the individuals but a high risk of conflict. You can expect plenty of fights if both people aren’t ready to be challenged and ready to adapt, change and grow as a result of this relationship. You can expect intense Break ups and intense making up.
Ebertin says Pluto-Mars’s principle is super-human power, showing extraordinary force, vigour and ambition. Success is attained through excessive effort with a tendency to proceed in a brutal manner, suffering violent assaults and injuries.
There could be great drive and ambition. If the power of this combination can be channelled to something constructive then what this pair can achieve is likely astounding. If supported by the rest of the synastry – the chemistry between the partners is going to be exceptional and unforgettable. There are lots of similarities in these two planets that are hard to ignore. Both deal with elements of power and challenge so there are going to be power struggles which may be difficult to manage, especially with the square.
What do Mars and Pluto represent?
Mars represents: will power, energy, courage, determination, enjoyment of work and fighting along with an urge to to do something. It is also associated with the libido. Negatively, this can manifest as destructiveness, impulsiveness, and brutality.
Pluto on the other hand represents: impersonal force, unconscious force, invisible might, power to change, metamorphosis.
Who is Mars to Pluto?
As always it depends on Pluto’s house and natal aspects as well. But when Mars is strongly placed in someone’s chart that person can be seen by Pluto as powerful and motivated with a great stamina and capacity for initiating projects and making things happen. Mars will seem to be a courageous person and virile. He could be seen as a warrior, capable of handling the most difficult sides of life. When weak in the chart, Mars may seem to lack some of the qualities that we see in a stronger placement. On some instances Mars might be “unruly”, a force to be controlled.
Who is Pluto to Mars?
Pluto would appear to Mars as a deep and mysterious individual, who holds a type of power that is different to its own. Pluto comes across as charismatic and an invitation to explore the unknown. A strongly magnetic personality who may be a temptation that is hard to resist. Pluto may come across as a great force that can serve as an ally or someone to be conquered. Or someone to be feared or avoided.
How does Pluto make Mars feel?
Pushed, in a positive and negative sense. On one side to explore his own drives, realise his own power and energy and apply them in his life. Alternatively – riled up, agitated when Mars’ will power clashes on Pluto’s invisible might. That provokes a sense of conflict and power struggles, as Mars will not relinquish control, esp if dignified. At the same time Pluto attracts Mars like a magnet but also pushes him off. There is the attraction but also the loathing underneath.
How does Mars make Pluto feel?
Mars makes Pluto conscious of its power, which Pluto will try to maintain at all costs. In certain people it might wake up the capacity for ruthlessness for obtaining the active Mars energy. And also gain more power. Pluto may feel threatened, leading to some of the behaviours we will look at later on.
How does Mars act?
Let’s start with the positive shall we? Mars will likely be passionate and be motivated to action. However, some of the more difficult sides to Mars are likely to surface. Being brash, impulsive and aggressive. Ready to challenge Pluto and isn’t afraid of speaking up when something doesn’t resonate with them. If Mars is poorly placed in the chart then it may become submissive and weak or revert to other underhand tactics to maintain some power in the relationship.
How does Pluto act?
It depends also highly on the natal chart, spiritual development of the person and the rest of the synastry. People will always firstly act according to their natal charts. That said Pluto may try to control Mars, either through direct or underhand means. Pluto from a more positive angle, may be seen motivating and supporting the Mars individual to take new steps in their life, pursue ambitions. However a hard aspect might indicate that even if there is potentially good intentions behind a certain behaviour, it will still likely manifest as a challenging experience. If Pluto is balanced and secure enough in themselves, they can also be seen to be correcting Mars, in areas where they are excessive or lacking. This can be very helpful but will unlikely be done in a comfortable way.
Dynamics that develop:
Those are just potentials and don’t always form.
As we already mentioned both deal with elements of power and challenge so there are going to be power struggles which may be difficult to manage, especially with the square. The relationships are intense but often from the beginning there is the foreshadowing of clashes between an open, extroverted power and a more hidden subtle one. Both partners will not want to relinquish control of their own power.
Often there might be an undercurrent competition for the upper hand in the relationship. A sense of constant renegotiation of power. On the positive side, these renegotiations can help a relationship to be periodically refreshed and updated to the present situation. This can also help develop an awareness of equality between the two, as uncomfortable that might be for both. When Mars and Pluto team up, they have an unbeatable energy, a very strong drive to win and to succeed. As partners they have quite the potential to “dominate” over the outside world. That is quite difficult to make work with the hard aspects though.
On the negative side, the constant power struggles can lead to an almost instinctual, intense hate, where staying civil with one another might be a challenge. There is even potential for violence, possibly mixed in with strong attraction. If the promise is present in the natal chart, these hard aspects may indicate an activation of abusive behaviour patterns, which could even go both ways. Remember physical or emotional abuse is unacceptable and it is an indication that the dynamics have got out of hand, unless serious psychological help is sought by both individuals, separation is the only solution.
The End and the Aftereffects, can Long Term Work?
It will probably end the way it started – with a bang, and a big one at that. The intensity of the relationship is going to make it unforgettable to both, the memories are possibly going to be somewhat difficult due to the dynamics already described. There could be particularly strong residual anger and frustration for both.
If the rest of the rest of the synastry helps and there is a constructive negotiation of power, in a longer term relationship this aspect might help keep the relationship full of passion and energy. Especially to the outside world the partners look like an unbeatable combo.
It is a pity that long term doesn’t always mean happy or productive though and there is quite the potential for strife and even violence to be mixed in some relationships. Especially in hard aspects it is difficult achieving balance and it requires great work.
We hope this breakdown of the difficult Mars-Pluto conjunctions, square and oppositions comes in useful for those of you that have joined us. Leave your experiences in the comments, if you feel like it!