To me, 11-11-11 is a day for prayer and intention setting, for choosing a higher vibration of consciousness. Tomorrow I will teach a workshop in Eugene on the Archetype of Mars. And today it feels completely appropriate to talk about the god of war as we consciously choose peace, love, and unity.
The archetype of Mars deals with masculine strength, and issues of physical force. Even in ancient Greek culture, Mars (Ares) was ridiculed for his use of force and brutality without consideration, strategy, and dialogue. This seems like the opposite of what we need to bring the Earth back into balance. We want to embrace the feminine, to bring peace to humanity and healing to Mother Earth. So why does it feel appropriate?
In Evolutionary Astrology, all the planets serve our healing and growth. However, in order to receive this support, we have to consciously choose how we use them. If we look deeper into Mars, we see that it is vital life force energy. In its higher vibration it is passion, determination, drive, and inspired action. It is the ability of the organism to move from place to place and to remove obstacles to obtaining its desires. When Mars is healthy within us, we are using this life force to consciously align with goals that support a greater vision, with passion that emerges from authentic desire.
Mars helps us to counteract depression, stagnation, and overwhelm through decision and action. It is crucial to bring this vitality into our choices and into our commitments to serve the future of humanity and the planet Earth. It is not the first line of action, it should follow prayer, meditation, self-love, and intention. When we first use these tools to align with a positive vibration and the greatest good, our actions follow naturally, effortlessly and confidently. We become capable of DOING what we can imagine in our BEING.
Mars helps us to be courageous in making the choices we need to make. We can call upon the passion and inspiration of our inner knowing and use it as fuel for the Mars fire. I imagine a world where we utilize our physical power and our power of choice to create the differences in the world we want to see. Movement, mobilization, and action are the antidotes to fear, powerlessness, and limitation.
Even our ancestors knew this. Here is a quote from ancient Greece? a prayer to Mars (Ares) for help in aligning with the greatest good.
Homeric Hymn 8 to Ares (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic?C7th to 4th B.C.) from Wikipedia
“Ares, exceeding in strength, chariot-rider, golden-helmed,?doughty in heart, shield-bearer, Saviour of cities, harnessed in?bronze, strong of arm, unwearying, mighty with the spear, O?defender of Olympos, father of warlike Nike (Victory), ally of?Themis, stern governor of the rebellious, leader of the righteous?men, sceptred King of manliness, who whirl your fiery?sphere [the star Mars] among the planets in their sevenfold?courses through the aither wherein your blazing steeds ever?bear you above the third firmament of heaven; hear me, helper?of men, giver of dauntless youth! Shed down a kindly ray from?above upon my life, and strength of war, that I may be able to?drive away bitter cowardice from my head and crush down the?deceitful impulses of my soul. Restrain also the keen fury of my?heart which provokes me to tread the ways of blood-curdling?strife. Rather, O blessed one, give you me boldness to abide?within the harmless laws of peace, avoiding strife and hatred?and the violent fiends of death.” (emphasis mine)
And here is my version of this prayer, appropriate to our modern needs as we make this shift in consciousness.
A modern prayer to Mars, by Marina Ormes
Mars, with your strength and might, with your untiring effort, with?your steadfast courage and willingness to defend and protect?my intentions against all of their enemies within and without, with?your skillful wielding of the spear and ability to cut out what does?not serve me, as the driver of the chariot of my soul in this incarnation,?I call upon you now. Send me your unwavering strength?and courage that I may release completely and for all time my?compulsions to act unconsciously. Help me to subdue and remove?from my being any inclinations that do not serve my highest?potential and the greatest good for all beings on Earth and?beyond. Give me the courage and the audacity to do my part to?consciously and intentionally create a peaceful, harmonious,?and sustainable world for myself and my fellow beings for uncountable?generations into the future. I am willing to own my?power with patience, compassion, and love in every moment.
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Marina Ormes?is the author of Cycles of Healing: Personal Transformation in Relationship to a Living Cosmos.
? Marina Ormes 2011. All rights reserved.
