Astrology · 23 August 2026 · Charlotte Himsworth
Mars: Courage and Action
Mars brings the fire to begin, to protect and to keep going.
Mars is the planet of drive, courage and action. Its sign describes how we pursue what we want, how we assert ourselves and how we handle conflict.
The ruler of Aries
Traditionally Mars rules Aries, the first sign of the zodiac. It is the energy of beginnings: the first step, the brave decision, the spark that sets things moving.
Healthy fire
Mars can be misunderstood as aggression. At its best it is protective, honest and wholehearted. Too little Mars and we struggle to start; too much and we push, rush or burn out. The Principle of Polarity invites us to find the healthy middle.
Tuesday
Tuesday is Mars’s day, well suited to brave first steps and honest effort.
A practice
Name one thing you have been avoiding. Ask: “What is the bravest small step I could take today?” Take it, and notice how courage grows each time we use it.