Mercury square Mars: active mind, impulsive action

On 24 March Mercury squares Mars for the third time this year, but this time Mercury is in Pisces. It is likely to make people more aggressive in their thinking and communications, especially if you have planets or points between 8 and 14 degrees of the Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces).

Mercury square Mars is a volatile aspect that can spur us into action, stir up fiery arguments out of the blue or send our minds racing wildly.

With Mercury in Pisces this energy may well manifest internally. You know those sleepless nights you spend berating that person you’re mad at but never actually confront? In many cases this can be more damaging and counter-productive than the all out stoush and it may be worth asking yourself whether you need to bite the bullet and confront the person or situation that is making you angry.

During Mercury square Mars our minds are likely to be very active and it may be difficult to slow thoughts down enough to get clear on the details of a situation. There will be a tendency to jump into action without considering all the possible consequences, especially if you are emotionally agitated or angry. On the other hand, those prone to over-analysis may find themselves having a hard time acting at all!

Be careful during this week that you don’t jump into attack mode and react aggressively to those who don’t agree with you. Arguments could erupt out of nowhere and those who have strong Mars in their natal chart should be especially cautious as things said in the heat of the moment during this transit could really hurt. Mars is the archetypal warrior and during Mercury square Mars our words can literally become weapons.

The tools and techniques of Non Violent Communication will be very useful during Mercury square Mars as we will be prone to pushing our opinions onto others instead of listening with an open heart to the other person’s perspective. Remember everyone we meet has something to teach us and keep an open mind: our version of reality is only part of the picture.

On the positive side you are more likely to act on new information that you encounter during this transit and like all squares the tension can often push you to make necessary changes in your life that you may have been putting off. Just be conscious of where you are going; a rash action today could be something you regret tomorrow.

Managing the energy of Mercury square Mars

If you’re personally affected the unsettled energy of Mercury square Mars may be difficult to manage. Taking time out to meditate and quiet the mind will be enormously helpful. What other strategies can you think of that may be useful for working with this transit? Feel free to share you thoughts below.

Those with planets or points between 8 and 14 degrees of the Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces) will be strongly affected by Mercury square Mars. Look also to see through which houses in your natal chart Mercury and Mars are transiting as this will tell you the area of your life that is likely to be affected.

To understand how this transit applies to your own life, grab a free birth chart at astro.com and download my free ebook The Language of Astrology.