*especially helpful for those with Mars RX, Mars in the 12th, or with challenging aspects to your Mars.

Aries Mars: Got to tap into your confidence! What makes you feel strong - if appropriate - embrace people, things, ideas that make you feel powerful. Be more impulsive or even borderline reckless. Raise your voice more often (hopefully not to mistreat others). Get involved in more competitions and games. May need to work on trust issues. Focus on your goals, even if in a bit of a simpleminded or tunnel vision way. Get in touch with what you associate as “hot, fiery, or spicy”. Watch more satire, sports, or competitions. Incorporate metal, spicy foods, and reds into your life. Visit more hot places or wide-open places. Pay attention to your desires, lust, and passion. Get in touch with your inner daredevil. Ask what it means to stand up for others, what does that look like for you? Trust your instincts more often. Be quick to treat headaches or migraines and be more active in preventing them. Forgive your impulsiveness or impatience more often. This Mars Sign tends to be attracted to fiery and passionate people or anyone they see as a challenge. They need to be careful of getting into overly competitive relationships or ones filled with fighting. Mars in Aries is known to have a short fuse and can be highly reckless, impatient, possibly aggressive, and reactionary. Accepting this side of you can help you “get in touch” with your Mars Sign, but working through any anger issues or destructive behavior is important. Mars in Aries can be a confident leader, have very healthy boundaries, understand the importance of picking your battles, and will be first to stand up for others.

Taurus Mars: Stand your ground more often. Wear more earthy fragrances. Rebel or go after your wants with more determination. Get in touch with your sensual side. Be with partners who truly feel safe and are easygoing or flexible. Keep working at your assertive side - seriously, don’t give up! Drink more tea with honey or anything that soothes your throat. If they test you or try to mess with you - be the obstacle in their way! Appreciate your hardworking nature but also give into lazy impulses. Mars in Taurus can be hard to motivate, learning to work with your phases and what gets you going is important. Incorporate sage, thyme, mint, nature, the color green, copper, and beautiful or high-quality possessions into your life. I won’t tell anyone if you go on a low-key shopping spree. Slow down more often. Plan more. Embrace patience. Be more straightforward with what you like and want in intimacy. Be proud of your financial literacy or increase your financial understanding. Rely on your self-preservation instincts, but also understand its drawbacks such as unnecessary fear or anxiety, maybe a desire to control or possess. Mars in Taurus is slow to get mad but then explodes once they reach their tipping point. They can hold onto a lot of resentment, pain, and hold long grudges. Forgiveness, adaptability, and learning to express will, assertion, and anger in healthy ways are challenges for this placement.

Gemini Mars: Speak your mind! Mars in Gemini tends to dominate conversations or is highly assertive via communication, loudness, and maybe through ideas or education somehow. To get in touch with this Mars sign insert yourself more often into conversations, don’t be afraid of respectable and safe debates, and try to instigate or control the flow of conversations. Embrace your curiosity. Allow yourself to be an intellectual. Don’t let anyone make you think your intelligence, education, or beloved subjects are a weakness. Allow yourself to be charming, witty, or funny - you are likely funnier, more charismatic, or persuasive than you think. Get more social. Find ways to calm your anxiety or restless nature and take any high-strung or anxious behavior seriously. Wear more bright colors. Enjoy or observe playful animals. Eat more nuts, seeds, and vegetables. Take care of your hands. Try breathing exercises or meditation. Enjoy mild/nice weather more often. Your mind is your weapon - take care of it. Embrace the flexibility in your assertiveness, will, and self-preservation. Embrace change. Be careful of falling for smooth talkers, the highly flirty, or the tricky. Mars in Gemini tends to be attracted to intelligence, this is important but don’t forget about passion, romance, and depth. Don’t fear strong mental connections. Mars in Gemini can easily waste energy, be argumentative, can be talented at talking their way out of trouble or avoiding conflict, and takes other’s words very seriously. “Those are fighting words!” 🥊 Mars in Gemini should be careful of overexertion and burn out. Tapping into high energy can help you get in touch with this Mars sign, but it is important for them to learn patience, find stability, and find more moments of inner, quiet peace.

Cancer Mars: Listen to your intuition!!! Take the more cautious path sometimes, and DO NOT let anyone trick you into thinking that is cowardness. Get in touch with your inner night owl. Have a good cry. Cherish and utilize privacy. Embrace the idea of emotional strength NOT emotional suppression or control. Don’t judge the emotions trying to protect you too harshly (anger, jealousy, defensiveness, possessiveness, shyness). Ask for more emotionally, especially reassurance and affection. Let yourself give off “strong, silent type” vibes occasionally. Stop restricting your moody side, it’s important to act maturely and be respectful to others but sometimes your “crabbiness” may be the thing to get you motivated or assertive. Conflict, desires, ambition, will - these things don’t always have to be straightforward and Mars in Cancer can learn to master this as long as they get out of their own way with suppression, criticism, guilt, or self-doubt. Learn more about and practice defense more - whether in sport or metaphorically. Embrace your current phase or season whether that is the feeling of vulnerability or superhuman strength. Dip your toes into your primal urges and instincts. Don’t restrict any desires, especially if they come out quietly and slowly. Appreciate and take inspiration from water or the moon. Be protective of and take care of your chest area. Incorporate mint, silver, copper, and colors such as smoky shades, white, and blueish-green shades into your life. Let your strong will and tenacity take on a life of their own sometimes. Your home needs to be a sanctuary! Enjoy more high-quality food. Can be attracted to those who are protective, caring, or emotionally stimulating and deep. Must be careful of being used or getting into unhealthy dependency in relationships. Their protectiveness and loyalty can be a double-edged sword. Mars in Cancer’s most natural state is that of protectiveness. Understanding and identifying that is important. If I could choose a symbol for Mars in Cancer it would be a shield. Mars in Cancer is sometimes compared to a werewolf, cry baby, or the sign’s symbol 🦀 . Cancer has a strong, raw will and energy but it tends to come out indirectly. Mars’s fall is in Cancer and this means anger can easily turn into passive aggressiveness, grudge holding, resentment, or become misdirected. Learning to be more assertive and open is important for this placement but embracing their behind the scenes approach can have its upsides. Mars in Cancer can learn a lot from their opposite - Capricorn. Through calculation, logic, patience, and inner authority they can become the dangerous submarine vs. an out of control beast or timid wallflower.

Leo Mars: Mars in the fire element is known to do well under pressure. Jumping into heated situations can be scary but may help you get in touch with your Mars sign. Be more spontaneous. Give into the drama! Maybe watch more dramatic media for the fun of it. Get in touch with your inner exhibitionist. Sometimes you don’t just need to say what’s on your mind, you need to yell it. Don’t let anyone squash your playful or silly side, especially in the name of toughness, self-control, or strength. Boost your self-esteem whenever possible and in healthy ways. Get out in the sun more often. Sometimes your pride gets easily hurt, understand this more. It’s important to learn how to take criticism or to open one’s mind more often. Follow your lust or desires more often and safely. Find what makes you passionate and follow it. Take inspiration from big cats or fierce predators. Express your sexuality, whatever it is proudly and loudly. Allow yourself to get a little flamboyant or flashy. Take good care of your heart health and hair health. What makes you feel and express vibrantly? What gets you heated? What encourages bravery for you? Ask these questions and take them seriously. Be more giving especially with compliments, enthusiasm, and general warmth or friendliness. Love what you love freely and grandly. Try to learn what stances, gestures, clothing, makeup, or other physical attributes help you to feel fierce and powerful. Follow any impulses or needs to be a leader, just try to learn the most helpful and effective way to lead others. Most of all lead yourself, be an example to others with what you find to be honorable, impressive, or beautiful. Get more creative or even dominant in the bedroom (consensual and safe of course). Take time to enjoy the finer things in life. Party more often or at least celebrate more often. Accept praise or applause. Be aware of and work on any fears of rejection. Mars in Leo is attracted to those who seem confident, powerful, stand out in the limelight, or have big, strong personalities. They need to be sure there is plenty of mutual respect and admiration in their relationships. Power struggles can be a risk. Mars in Leo is also known for being quick-tempered, possibly arrogant, bossy, or overly dramatic. When getting in touch with this Mars it is important to build up pride and assertiveness, but in general this is a placement who usually needs to learn humility, can benefit from more logic and level-headedness, and practice helping others more often. They have a lot of power... but “with great power comes great responsibility”.

Virgo Mars: Pay more attention to the details. Get in touch with your practical side: ask yourself if this is the responsible choice? Try to view problems and solutions in realistic terms, tap into your culture’s “common sense”, and focus more on finances and material goals. Practice more self-control or appreciate your restrained side more. Virgo is known as their own worst critic, it is usually important for them to be more self-tolerant and forgiving. But to get in touch with this Mars sign you may want to try pursuing things that you find self-improving. Don’t stand for anyone’s harsh judgment, you already have enough of that internally. Drink more high-quality beer or your favorite beer (not encouraging alcoholism). Assert with your knowledge and actions vs. your fist, words, or anger. Practice more patience and caution. Give into your impulses or desire to work hard as long as it is not detrimental to your health. Focus more on your physical health! Mars in Virgo is known to suppress their lustful side or heavily criticize what they like in intimacy. Try to be more accepting of your desires and preferences, it may be beneficial to learn more about the science behind human sexuality. LOVE YOUR BODY! Help others more often but watch out for savior complexes or victim mentality. Mars in Virgo may express their energy, will, and more heated emotions or drive by problem solving, “fixing things”, and coming to the rescue. Embrace and try to understand this aspect but also watch out for a high-strung, critical, or even shallow or overbearing feelings and behaviors this may bring to your relationships. Always try to find the most pragmatic or cool-headed solutions to conflict or problems. Practice humility and gratefulness. Try to stay on track with your goals, responsibilities, chores, and tasks. Try to stay more organized and focused. Enjoy more earthy colors, scents, and flavors. Mars in Virgo may have a desire to serve or be of use through their fiery drive and emotions, this may make careers in the military, police, firefighting, security guard, or maybe paramedic attractive. Finding a way to use your competitive, driven, “masculine”, tough, and fighting side to help others may be fulfilling. Mars in Virgo tends to internalize anger and conflict and take out a lot of their anger at themselves. However there is also a restless energy that wants to resolve conflicts right away. Mars in Virgo can have a lot of nervous energy, they can be surprisingly scattered when overwhelmed with conflict, but communication, cleverness, and flexibility are their strengths. If they embrace a quieter and more down-to-earth form of assertiveness and take pride in or rely on the power of knowledge and skill in a craft they can become a “sniper” metaphorically. Efficient, smart, and eyes on the target.

Libra Mars: Practice more cooperation and compromise, lean into the happiness you can get from making others happy, approach things more objectively or logically. Be more social and assess what you need to be happy in your social life. Evaluate the importance of reputation and social status. Ask yourself these questions: what is my view of justice? My opinion on equality and/or fairness? What do I see as “good” and “bad” in myself and others? Try a pair sport. Value the importance of teamwork more often. Put yourself in others’ shoes more often. Get out in open, wide spaces more or places with good air quality. Explore the arts. Take pride in your self-expression. Genuinely admire others beauty without feeling odd or guilty. Take more time to adore yourself. Enjoy good wine more often (not promoting alcoholism). Try to understand and sympathize with your people pleaser tendency. If you feel detached with the desire to please others and instead find yourself to be highly rebellious and argumentative - it is very important to look inside and analyze your inner conflicts and turmoil. Listen to the urge to make peace, especially inner peace. Admire your patience, cool head, merciful side, or politeness - these can be beneficial traits. Embrace social intelligence. Mars in Libra should be careful of easily getting threatened in the social sphere or low-key competitive with those they see as their peers. But to get in touch with this Mars Sign a healthy, friendly rivalry could be helpful. Mars in Libra is prone to intellectualizing their anger, passion, competitive side, and drive. It is important for this placement to pay more attention to their warmer emotions. Give into romantic ideas or urges - especially any that are more dramatic or glamorous. Drink more cranberry juice and/or water. Tends to be attracted to charming, charismatic, or romantic partners. Must be careful of getting stuck in more shallow relationships or falling for those who may be deceitful. Mars is detriment in Libra and finds it hard to express itself in this sign. Mars in Libra can be prone to passive-aggressive and dismissive behavior, is highly conflict avoidant, and/or their anger gets easily misdirected or misunderstood. By being more direct, honest, and taking more responsibility for their actions and self they can find a healthy balance between tact, cooperation, and assertiveness and boundaries. Mars in Libra has many advantages - they can talk their way out of problems, is adaptable in conflict, tends to stay level-headed and logical, and may try to solve problems mostly through communication and compromise. Mars in Libra can be a great mediator, negotiator, or peacekeeper.

Scorpio Mars: Tighten your inner circle. Follow your hunches more often. Allow yourself to be protective over others but also yourself. UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT YOUR DESIRES. Don’t be afraid of what you are attracted to. Enjoy a good mystery or scandalous story. Get an adrenaline rush. Wear stronger perfume/cologne. Pay more attention to your own and others’ eye contact. Ask yourself if you feel empowered? Do you control your own destiny? Try to take more direction in your life with decisiveness, confidence, accountability, and self-respect. Be forgiving but also careful of any obsessive tendencies. Be open to learning more about dark or taboo subjects. Have respect for yours and others autonomy, personal power, depth, and will. Admire or take inspiration from animals such as scorpions, eagles or other large birds of prey, snakes, lizards, spiders, wolves, and invertebrates. Take a day to close all the blinds and keep your room or home dark. Maybe consume more horror movies or books. Practice introspection more often. Recharge or get riled up in intense or fast-paced, active, possibly challenging situations or environments. Follow your curiosity more. Connect with those who are as passionate as you or stir up your passion. Learn or appreciate the importance of empathy and compassion, but also assertiveness and faith in the self. Don’t be afraid to start over. Find strength and comfort in your privacy. Admire or learn about extreme weather such as crazy storms or really hot or cold places. Be careful of stress being stored in unexpected areas or come out volatilely. Appreciate the privacy of large sunglasses, a hoodie, or getting lost in a crowd. I don’t want to sugar coat Mars in Scorpio, they are associated with manipulation, jealousy, possessiveness, vindictiveness, and forcefulness. Whether you feel connected to your Mars sign or not, it is important to understand that Scorpio influences require one to own up to their good and bad, it is a sign that tells a story of self-mastery and transformation. There is always a battle with their inner demons. Mars in Scorpio can be attracted to those who seem mysterious or secretive, emotionally deep or receptive, and while passion and power can attract them so can a sob story, especially fall from grace stories or anyone who has gone through similar struggles as them. They are a water sign after all... Mars in Scorpio can also easily become manipulated and/or be blinded by love or lust. They need to be careful of power struggles in relationships. In terms of anger, willpower, and heated energy Mars is comfortable in Scorpio - they can be powerful, sneaky, advantageous, sharp, almost unstoppable and also a passionate lover, an attractive or motivating leader, enlightening and empowering influence, an intuitive fighter or conqueror. Mars in Scorpio in general can benefit from practicing more patience, practice practicality more or be around grounded, logical influences, and addressing issues of kindness, forgiveness, and redemption, whether that is to the self or others.

Sagittarius Mars: Do it for the rush, the thrill! Get an adrenaline rush via rollercoasters, running, skydiving, join a professional race - anything that safely and legally involves speed. Tell more jokes or stories. Be honest... not just honest, BE BLUNT, just say what is lingering on the tip of your tongue. Take more long walks or drives. Take more leaps of faith. Trust in yourself! Ever have the urge to be the life of the party? Do it, indulge and go a little crazy at a party or lively social gathering. Easily feel drained at a party or in social situations? Consider being around more exciting and/or lighthearted company or find stimulation via debating, learning, or teaching. Don’t suppress or feel guilty about any big emotions or gestures that you need to express and aren’t inherently harmful. Be loud. Nurture assertiveness. Go on an adventure or quest even if it is low-key or via a game. Practice more idealistic or optimistic thinking. Be more spontaneous. Engage with or learn more about those who disagree with you. Enjoy wide open spaces. Test your luck sometimes. Take time to change up or escape any dull routines. Encourage or follow your self-motivation. Embrace independence. Allow yourself to be playful and flirty. Stay away from complicated drama and keep things straightforward and out in the open. Stand up for your beliefs or allow yourself to feel passionately about them. Pay attention to both facts and realism as well as personal truths. Say no to mind games. Brag or show off a little more. Be with partners who are fun and non-pressuring. Take life and yourself less seriously. Be more flexible in conflict or when approaching your goals. Allow yourself to be ardent in the bedroom. Practice open-mindedness in intimacy. Take a shot at entertaining others. Try taking things less personally. Tends to be attracted to those who are charismatic, very independent, intelligent, free-spirited, funny, or those who may seem “exotic” to them. They need to be careful of more superficial relationships or those who are unstable or even devious. They can easily get carried away with lust or infatuation and may need to take relationships more slowly or at least approach them with a lot of good communication and mutual reassurance and trust. Sometimes their impulsive fire, sharp tongue, and snappiness is empowering, other times it can make a mess of things, learning to understand this side of themselves can be important. Mars in Sagittarius can have a shorter fuse, is known for being impatient, can easily burn others with their words, and may exaggerate or easily mislead others. Allowing one’s anger to rile them up and be exerted can be helpful when getting in touch with this Mars Sign, but in general Mars in Sagittarius struggles with crashing and burning in terms of anger and conflict. They can lack focus, miss important details, be too selfish, or get too caught up in the heat of the moment. Taking a moment to step away from heated situations can be helpful along with practicing more patience, calming methods, and concentration.

Capricorn Mars: Take responsibility for your own actions. Embrace and nurture your ambitious side. Set realistic goals for yourself. Be around those you consider to be competent and successful. Buy more high quality and especially long-lasting possessions if possible. Approach life more practically. Be strict and stable with boundaries. Plan more often. Practice patience. Play more strategic games. Accept a more active libido - Mars in Capricorn is known for a hungry 😘, explore this side of you. Enjoy sensuality. Use power poses, words, or clothing. Give yourself pep talks. Stay on top of your manners. Tempted to prove someone wrong? Do it! Tap into your endurance and relentlessness. Take good care of your skin, teeth, knees, and bone and joint health. ALWAYS follow your protective instincts. Keep your cards close. Practice toughness as long as it doesn’t suppress your emotional needs. Be careful when using “tough love”, Capricorn is associated with strictness and even ruthlessness, when getting in touch with this Mars Sign embracing grit can be helpful, but don’t fall into unhealthy habits or behaviors. Be more disciplined and routine. Weigh your options more carefully. Embrace and consciously practice self-authority. Try to keep a cool head. Reward yourself more often. Ask yourself what the more logical solution is to a problem. Don’t lower your standards in love or attraction. Mars in Capricorn tends to be attracted to those who seem mature, responsible, classy, and/or who’s strengths and achievements are aligned with what their culture deems as worthy. They need to be careful of falling into materialistic relationships, ones that focus too much on reputation, being with those who are cold or hard to get close to, or relationships that go nowhere. Mars in Capricorn is exalted, the planet’s energy is comfortable and well expressed. While cool and restrained, Mars finds focus and calculation in Mars. They approach conflict thoughtfully. But despite this advantage Mars in Capricorn can be self-critical, and easily take out their anger on themselves. They tend to not be the best at admitting they are wrong, can be controlling and fear a lack of control, has a blunt and assertive side but also one that is more subtle and even manipulative with eyes set on the prize. Mars in Capricorn can benefit greatly from getting in touch with their gentle and sensitive side. Emotional understanding and practicing tolerance are important.

Aquarius Mars: Rebel more! Practice open communication. Try to be more independent. Challenge your intellect. Indulge in what is or feels new. Find a cause to be passionate about or get involved in. Stand up for what you believe in loudly, dramatically, even radically. Play it cool sometimes. Assertion and individuality are strongly connected for this placement, allow yourself to be seen, stand up for or fight for your uniqueness to be expressed or thrive. Accepting your uncommon desires and turn ons may be important work. Be your own best friend, always. Accept your more stubborn or even opinionated side. Practice more respect towards others and yourself. Practice tolerance within reason. If you don’t feel comfortable with someone’s passion, intensity, affection, or attachment dip out (respectfully), you don’t have to be guilted or pressured into what others define as normal or good in terms of intimacy and sharing. Give into a little chaos. Metaphorically play the mad scientist sometimes or just the madman/woman. If you feel an itch to debate, nit-pick, or go on a bend to prove someone or something wrong...just do it. I don’t want to encourage jerky behavior, but Mars in Aquarius is strong-willed air, this is Mars who is determined to discover the secrets of the universe as well as tear down the status quo - sometimes this means being a little annoying or starting a revolution. Follow the path that helps to liberate yourself. Take more deep breaths. Find what makes you feel free. Ask more questions. Wear more distinct fragrances. Give yourself space from others when mad. Explore subjects in science or technology. Appreciate or take inspiration from science fiction, neon signs or colors, fast-paced music, progressive or futuristic ideas, unpopular or uncommon animals, underrated media, and the latest tech. Step outside your comfort zone more often. Build up courage to break your own boundaries. Appreciate your close friends or allies. Aquarius placements in general seek belonging and a strong, supportive network, it is important to attend to these needs. Don’t fear opposing ideas. Be a trendsetter or indulge in the latest trends - either way this stimulates a need for change, excitement, and the novel. Embrace change! Dive into ideas, stories, themes around destruction and rebuilding. Mars in Aquarius is known for struggling with intimacy, whether emotional or physical. They are known for being dispassionate and aloof. When getting in touch with this Mars Sign, it may be more about emphasizing non-physical aspects of attraction and relationships. Mars in Aquarius needs a strong mental connection with others and tends to be attracted to intellectuals, individualists, rebels, and outsiders. Mars in Aquarius needs to be careful of relationships that lack passion or depth, may fall into relationships with a lot of arguments, or easily feel misunderstood or alone with partners. Good communication, sharing ideals, and lots of respect, acceptance, and equal treatment are important in their closest relationships. Mars in Aquarius is associated with unconventional relationships and this can be hard to define in terms of challenges and benefits. This Mars sign may face unique challenges in their bonds. Mars in Aquarius is known for being erratic and unpredictable in terms of anger, passion, and conflict. This can sound dangerous or scary, but air rules over the mind vs. body or emotions. Their anger usually is expressed through a sharp tongue or they can approach heated situations with logical debates. Many times there can be detachment in their anger or motivation. There can be a strong drive to fight for someone or something. Heat and intensity is usually seen through protest or activism. On a personal level Mars in Aquarius may use a cold shoulder or tricks here and there but this sign is not usually known for passive-aggression or manipulation. More likely is nagging or arguing until you agree with them or give in. It can be hard for some to understand this placements triggers, pet peeves, and passions but they will likely be very willing to explain to you their point of view. It is important for Mars in Aquarius to consider the emotional side of things. Learning to give more reassurance to loved ones may be a lesson.

We were together. I forget the rest.

"... “I’m taking action because I feel desperate,” said U.S. climate scientist Peter Kalmus, who along with several others locked himself to the front door of a JPMorgan Chase building in Los Angeles. A recent report found that the financial giant is the biggest private funder of oil and gas initiatives in the world.

Friends - Kiyoshi Asai, 1974.

Japanese , 1902-1968

This particular picture is rather special though, because he drew the first draft for it while in space using coloured pencils he took with him:

As I pulled myself back toward the airlock, I heard Pasha talking to me: “It’s time to come back in.” I realized I had been floating free in space for over 10 minutes. In that moment my mind flickered back for a second to my childhood, to my mother opening the window at home and calling to me as I played outside with my friends, “Lyosha, it’s time to come inside now.”

Leather is good actually. Veganism isn’t the end all be all to morality and consumption. The issue isn’t that a chicken died for those nuggets, but that while the chicken was alive, it’s life fucking sucked. Vegan chocolate means little if the cocoa that made it was gathered by child slave labor.

Source

A painter in Los Angeles kept missing his exit for the I-5 on the 110 highway, so he did his research, climbed up the overhead sign, and changed it himself without anyone noticing.

This is Richard Ankrom. He couldn’t find his damn exit, cuz it wasn’t properly labelled.  

So he took life by the balls, like any self-respecting Californian would do, and used his sign-painting expertise to fix it himself.

He called it ‘guerilla public service.’ Even got himself an outfit to look official. It worked, obvi.

Caltrans investigated, but the sign was actually up to code. They left it there for 8 years before they made an updated sign.