Thread by @pwatsonastro

Mars is a nocturnal malefic. Why? Well, why are 'daylight robberies' unusual? Because it's not expected. "The night is dark and full of terrors". Why are werewolves associated with the Moon, why do vampires hate the Sun? Darkness is dangerous, it's Mars's time of day. (thread)

Aspects have benefic/malefic qualities and diurnal/nocturnal associations. As a planet is in a waning sextile with the Sun, it becomes increasingly less visible. When it's in a waxing sextile with the Sun, it's moving toward visibility but it's still less visible. (cont)

Meanwhile planets moving toward or away from a trine with the Sun are largely at their most visible, starting their annual oppositions with the Sun. So the sextile is more nocturnal, while the trine is more diurnal.

At the same time, Venus is never more than sextiling sign away from the Sun, and Jupiter stations retrograde very close to a trine with the Sun, so the sextile and trines are also considered benefic, the sextile is Venus-like, the trine is Jupiter-like.

The square divides between the lunar/nocturnal sextile aspect and the solar/diurnal trine aspect. And of course the major planet between Venus and Jupiter is Mars, so Mars is associated with the square, while Saturn is associated with the opposition.

This is also why the signs of Mars are square the signs of the lights. Aries is square Cancer, the Moon's sign, and Scorpio is square Leo, the Sun's sign.

The reason then that Mars takes its exaltation in Capricorn is because it is the sign that most essentially matches Mars's own nature. Mars is a nocturnal malefic, and the only other nocturnal malefic sign aside from Scorpio is Capricorn.

Also, Capricorn is the only sign that is both square (malefic) Aries, and sextile (nocturnal) Scorpio. It's the sign that has both components of Mars's nature in its relationship to Mars's two domiciles, Aries and Scorpio.

Capricorn is the nocturnal sign of Saturn, a harsh, cold, unforgiving place that only rewards what you bitterly earn. It's where Jupiter is fallen, not a place to hope. It's where the Moon is exiled, not a caring place. But it is where Mars can thrive. Only the strong remain.

Mars in Capricorn can thrive under the strict orders of its general, Saturn. Saturn forms and orders the strength and rage of Mars into efficient action.

So the fact that Mars is stationing direct not just in its sign of exaltation, but at its exaltation degree of 28 Capricorn, while its ruler Saturn is in Capricorn is remarkable.

The most vivid manifestation I am seeing right now of these principles in action is in the nationwide #PrisonStrike2018 that has just begun. Mars is taking a stand in a hopeless place. theguardian.com/us-news/2018/a…