Looks can be deceiving. Although the planet Mars appears red from our perspective here on Earth, it is not a burning hot planet. Far from it, the average temperature is a daunting minus 80℉/60℃. Nonetheless, astrologically speaking, Mars embodies Yang energy- pure masculinity in action. Archetypally it represents The Warrior and Ares, The God of War and Conquest.
The Liver, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) shares a kindred spirit with Mars. Although this organ is classified as Yin, its personality is a lot like that of The Warrior. Yin organs store, transform, produce and regulate essential substances like blood and body fluids. The lungs and kidneys are Yin. Yang organs are mostly hollow organs which allow food to pass through them in order to extract nutrients. The small and large intestines are Yang.
The nature of Yang is hot, moving, active, loud and bright. It is the fire that cooks food, the sunrays that give life to our planet and the lightning that ignites the sky. Yin is cold, passive, yielding, quiet and dark. Yang is a warm summer day, and Yin is a cold winter evening. Yin and Yang are complementary but opposing forces. Neither could exist without the other.
Yang behavior includes taking action, asserting one’s will and dominating your enemies. Here is our capacity to fight, defend, and act as our survival instincts dictate. This energy isn’t particularly thoughtful or creative, it is raw, unadulterated power. Being such, there is potential to express aggressive, impulsive, angry and violent behavior.
Martian energy is powerful- it needs to move and struggle in order to activate. Its goal is to initiate change. Transformation and change transpire by constructive or destructive means. Whether things are created from the beginning or redone, either way something new materializes.
Feelings of anger, vexation, rage or resentment may be the impetus for implementing change. The need to exert one’s willpower is essential. Competing, conquering an enemy, facing a threat to one’s survival, and overcoming extreme trials and tribulation all contribute to the power of Mars.
Facing adversity and imprinting one’s will in life, requires physical energy which is why The God of War represents our physical vitality and resilience. It’s not just how we handle adversity, but how long it takes us to recover and bounce back into action.
An inability to go forward in life or a feeling of being in a rut, can cause imbalances in the psychological aspects of the Liver. Feeling powerless leads to frustration, anger, mood swings, and frequent sighing. Sighing provides a sound vibration which soothes the liver, although it’s a noise that seems as if one is giving up. A patient with these symptoms is diagnosed with Liver Qi stagnation.
Knocked out, bowled over or having the wind kicked out of you doesn’t mean you can’t get right back up again, according to the Liver and Mars. Action is key for both. Even during periods of rest or inactivity, they remain alert and poised for action, ready to bound in a single motion.
The glyph for Mars is a circle, representing the sun and/or Spirit, with an arrow shooting out from it. The arrow is singular, alone in its journey, yet unwavering in its direction. There are no loops or detours on this path. The simple design of the arrow serves its sole purpose- to tear itself free and individuate.
This glyph can also be interpreted as the process of childbirth. Birth entails a painful, bloody struggle as an infant struggles to physically break free from the mother. The friction generated helps the newborn grow stronger and more determined.
It is a difficult first step (perhaps the most difficult one of our lives), but necessary to break away from the original sources of our lives- the Yin aspects. First, to tear away from the Spiritual plane, and then from the mother’s womb, clearly demonstrates a fierce Will to Manifest. This is the first opportunity to distinguish oneself from the whole, and thus become an individual.
Mars represents sexuality, desire and the irresistible impulses needed for procreation. This is our capacity for sexual feelings and activity, which is not to be confused with romance. Venus, embodying Yin qualities, represents the mystery and excitement associated with love. The God of War is more sexual than sensual.
Not surprisingly, one of the body parts associated with The Warrior is the penis- the medium through which the Seeds of Life come bursting forth. The ability for a soul to incarnate in human form on earth exists because Mars works as the celestial phallus.
Mars is the first personal planet to make a full orbit around the Sun- the star at the center of our Solar System. In astrology, this great star represents our identity and life purpose. All the planets revolve around it, giving their support to this magnificent, life-giving celestial body.
The other two personal planets, Mercury and Venus, travel at roughly the same speed as the Sun so they are never very far from it. Which means they can never form challenging aspects with the sun, such as oppositions and squares. However, The God of War can do that!
He’s the first planet to defy the will of the Sun when they form an opposition or square. Immense energy, courage and drive must prevail to accomplish this feat. In order to work in harmony with our life’s purpose, Mars needs to be strong and properly guided. He needs direction. When in balance, The Warrior exudes confidence and discipline, able to make decisions quickly in order to turn ideas into action. In this way, he supports and fights for the Sun.
Effective Warrior energy is best expressed directly and spontaneously. Mars relates to our physicality, not our mind. An element of intuitive processing perfects quick decision-making that must occur in life-threatening situations. When on the battlefield, being jumped in a dark alleyway, or during any surprise attack, no motion can be wasted. Survival instincts must be on fire!
Just as the glyph for Mars indicates, the arrow cutting through the circle effectively achieves its purpose because it heads directly outward, with no bends, curves or fancy flourishes. Assertive and self-determined, his energy is clear, unclouded by emotion and overthinking. This precision and focus is The Warrior at his finest.
Where Mars resides in the charts, shows how we express our anger, and what makes us angry. This is an area of life where we can be very willful, dynamic and invigorated. A balanced Mars can feel anger and yet express it in a productive way that does not harm or interfere with another’s free will. Expression takes on an honest, straightforward cadence, allowing others to feel comfortable, knowing there is nothing nefarious hidden within his communications.
A time will come when authority must be challenged, and we must be competent enough to exert our autonomy. Knowing the right time is the gift of a strong Mars. It’s the kind of intelligence that makes for an excellent military commander. Thus, it is fitting that the Liver is known as The General in TCM, and shares many similarities with the Martian archetype.
According to TCM, The General commands the utmost respect, reigning with a fierce determination, even inspiring fear in some cases. He is a harsh taskmaster and takes charge of regulating the smooth flow of Qi throughout the body. Qi, loosely translated, means energy, vitality or force.
The General constantly sends commands dictating where, and how much Qi flows. It is said in TCM that the Liver stores the blood– it regulates the volume of blood in circulation. When sleeping, at rest or lying down, less blood circulates than when a body is active, in motion and requiring a greater influx of oxygen.
Therefore, a fresh supply of blood is ‘stored’ in the Liver until needed. Blood needs to be full of nutrients and of proper viscosity so it can move about easily, replenishing nutrient-deprived sites in the body and picking up waste materials for disposal.
The sense organ associated with the Liver are the eyes. TCM describes this connection by saying that the liver opens into the eyes. A healthy Liver manifests as bright eyes and clear vision- literally and metaphorically speaking. Blurry vision, making it easy to misjudge what is right in front of you, is a symptom of Liver deficiency. Painful, inflamed eyes making one ‘see red’ indicate an excess of Liver Qi. Rising anger overtakes sound judgement, leaving only the expression of rage as an option.
The body tissue related to the Liver are the sinews- fibrous tissue connecting muscle to bone. They need to stay supple, hydrated and nourished at all times. The Warrior needs to be ready to spring into action at the first sign of danger. When it is hard to stretch or bend, that’s a sign of Liver deficiency.
The Stomach and Liver lie next to each other in the abdominal cavity, putting the sensitive Stomach in a difficult spot. When frustrated, experiencing resentment or agitated for a prolonged period of time, the Liver is said to rebel. Rebellious Liver Qi then has a proclivity for harassing its more peaceful neighbor, the sensitive Stomach.
The root of this issue may not be a weak stomach, as much as an overactive, angry liver. Quite rightly, the gentle stomach surveys the aggressive liver with suspicion, knowing it may cause problems. Symptoms arise when the horizontal motion of Liver Qi becomes wild and forceful- causing pain, constipation and abdominal distention. Like getting kicked in the ribs after you’ve been knocked out in a fistfight.
It takes a tremendous amount of effort, resources and determination to do the work the Liver does. Without a proper way to vent this exuberant energy, Liver Qi can turn on itself and self-destruct. Using aggressive tactics and undue force in situations that don’t warrant it are a blatant misuse of Liver/Mars power.
Part of being a responsible General means taking into consideration the effects his actions will have on others. Is the cause righteous or important enough to use deadly force? The Warrior is expected to fight, and kill if necessary, with all his might to defend his family and his homeland. This is appropriate behavior because of the context. Out of context, this behavior constitutes murder.
Both Mars and the Liver suffer consequences when energy stagnates. It can build up and release in the wrong situation. In these cases, our actions do not bring us closer to our goals. We shrink from our highest potential and start sinking. This is when we become defensive, stuck and just plain angry. We can even have a difficult time defending ourselves at this point and allow fear to overwhelm us.
Both the Liver and Mars need to stay soft to be strong. Like the core muscles of the belly, they remain soft and yielding, yin-like, until fully engaged. When the time comes however, the solid, iron-like yang characteristics of muscles engage, ready for use at a moment’s notice.
Proficient use of Mars and Liver energy is easy to spot. There is a purposeful stride, strong bearing, and clear movement forward. Dreams, vision, inspiration and creativity thrive behind all actions taken. This energy strengthens anytime we confront a challenge, follow through on ideas, defend ourselves, or protect those weaker than us.
Staying in motion, paradoxically, means resting when necessary. To gain momentum when mobile, one leg must remain stationary, as a push-off point for the other leg to swing forward and propel the whole body.
In TCM, there is an herbal formula called Free and Easy Wanderer. It helps relieve symptoms of a stagnant Liver such as mood swings, frustration, and stomach pain. The premise is that as one seeks new, lively experiences, the liver has no time to feel bored, stuck or angry. Free-flowing movement is as easy as strolling in a novel environment, tasting a new recipe or learning about an unknown philosophy.
