my experience visiting the mars line — astrocartography
I have a bone to pick with how we are taught about astrocartography at the surface level. We are told certain planets or placements are bad and they will only be detrimental to our lives. But really, each placement will depend on your particular individual chart.
What is Astrocartography?
In Astrology, there are many branches and rabbit holes you can discover. Astrocartography is under locational astrology and it focuses on the planetary lines that are around the globe and how they influence and activate our natal chart when we visit them. The term was coined in 1970 by astrologer Jim Lewis.
Astrocartography is useful to predetermine the influences certain planets will have on our flavor of life in each place we visit. It is particularly good to understand what we will come across when we move to a new place or when we are planning a trip for a particular reason (aka a honeymoon or wedding).
If you want to consult with me on your astrocartography needs, you can book a consultation here! Be sure to tell me everything you need from it.
Debunking the myth of “malefic planets” being bad.
The “malefic” planets in traditional astrology are Saturn and Mars. Depending on your chart one will be worst than the other. They are said to bring harm to people if not properly channeled. I agree that we must be careful with these planets, but I think they do have their amazing and enjoyable rewards. Saturn is the planet of limitations, rules, delays, time, karma, and hard work. But it rewards if you put in the effort he requires. Mars is the planet of aggression, passion, and action. Yet it can feel amazing to move and go towards your goals (plus the romance can be fun ;)).
Each astrocartography placement will be different depending on your chart. I was recently in Costa Rica, which is my Mars/DC line. Mars is placed in my descendant aka the 7th house. The 7th house or descendant rules intimate partnerships, whether business, love, or friendship. Usually, this might not be the greatest placement to go to at a glance, but my personal natal chart has mars in the 7th house (Whole House) already, so it was lighting up something that is already a part of me. It was such an amazing trip full of discoveries and activations.
That is to say, yes they say not to go to the Mars or Saturn line. But if you have these planets dignified in your chart? It is going to be amazing. Even if you don’'t, you will still learn something from it. Just try not to move to these lines if they are badly treated in your chart. The only way to know exactly how your natal and astrocartography charts are is to either study astro (which is awesome and I recommend) or get your chart read by an astrologer. You can do it with me in the link above!
What can you learn in the Mars line?
Mars is a planet that rules action, if you move your body, are an athlete, a dancer, or a yoga instructor, you might love a mars live because it puts you to work. Wherever you have it in your chart it will light up your need for movement and action. It can get pretty intense through the private life which is where I’d recommend channeling it through work-outs, sex, or a busy schedule in which rest is also properly planned out.
Each line will feel differently depending on your locational chart and what other aspects there are on the same astrocartography chart. It will also feel different depending on which angle it is on. There are four angles: ascendant, descendant, midheaven, and imum coeli. All angles are part of your life and chart and you can read about the angles here. Depending on where the Mars line is located it will feel totally different. Costa Rica for me was amazing which was Mars/DC but I went to Brussels and it was quite overwhelming after a week which had Mars/AC.
No placement is a one size fits all.
You can learn to be more active, more of a go-getter, and more confident in your Mars line. It can feel exciting and like you are grabbing life by the b*lls. Mars can provide good sex and amazing movement. If you feel stagnant in your life this is the place to go to for a good shakeup. If you practice any of the activities ruled by mars which is really anything that moves your body, you are going to have a great time. Hiking is amazing on a Mars line, believe me. I loved it so much when I went to the mountains in Costa Rica. When I was in Brussels, I actually was stuck in a city with my, at the time, one year old baby, so maybe if I had been able to move, it would have been a lot more pleasant.
You don’t want a Mars line if you have it bad aspected in your own chart. If you have any kind of physical limitation or a bad relationship to anger, you don’t want to worsen that. It is important to not be clumsy because Mars rules accidents so as long as you are aware and graceful with your body, you’ll be able to use this line for what it is intended. Mars can aggravate and frustrate but if you have a channel, you will do amazing. Do not be scared of this line, it can be life-changing to visit.
My experience in the Mars line.
Astrology deals with timing and fate. I went to Belgium during an eclipse season on a mercury rx. Not the greatest moment to go to my Mars/AC line. But I needed a shakeup. It was frustrating to say the least, I was with a baby backpacking. I was supposed to get on a van and drive to Italy but everything that could go wrong went wrong and I took that as a sign that I was not ready. (I’ll be back for more at a different time in other circumstances). I wanted to activate my life, at least, that was the intention. I had felt stagnant too long. I did not have the astrology knowledge I have know, otherwise I would have done a couple things differently.
Brussels put me on the burner. Mars was grabbing me by the hair and telling me to move. I cried a lot, I was frustrated, but when I got back home it lit a small fire in me. Fast-forward to 8 months later when I visited my Mars/DC line in Costa Rica. I absolutely loved it. I did not go with my baby and I went with the intention of hiking and walking a lot. I have this placement natally and yes, I went on yet another mercury rx (another phenomenon not to fear). The trip was life changing. I am still dealing with the integration of everything that happened.
One thing I can say is that if the fire was lit in my first trip, this one made it absolutely roar. My inner fire woke the f*ck up. That is exactly what I needed after a certain period of time of what seemingly felt like stagnation (but when are we ever truly stagnant, am I right?). Mars will do that to you because it is also the planet of manifestation. It is where we grab our passion and make it happen in whatever we can. We take action. We become one with our desires, with that flame that won’t back down.
If you are ready to wake up, whether through pain or pleasure, and reconnect with yourself and your desires, I wholeheartedly recommend a Mars line. It will change your life if you have been feeling stagnant. It is also just plain fun. I ziplined across mountains (the most Mars thing ever) and it gave me a whole new perspective of life and well, my mortality. Mars isn’t bad, you just need to know what you are using it for.