Ingress occurs when a point moves out of one sign and into another sign. This transition results in a change in tone and meaning for the point, which is an energy shift designed to promote and continue growing on a regular and ongoing basis. Each point moves at a different speed, so the ingress for Mercury, which is faster than Mars, happens more frequently (mostly every 3 to 4 weeks) while the ingress for Pluto happens much more slowly (after a decade has passed).
This article will look at the ingress of Mars as it leaves Libra and enters Scorpio. The change in tone involves leaving the cardinal air sign to enter the fixed water sign of the Zodiac. Energetically, it will be like leaving the actions wrought by the sword of justice to seek private pleasure and do what you most desire. The soldier is home from the war and enters the brothel as his chosen reward.
Changing the Tone, Changing the Meaning
On November 19th Mars will leave Libra and enter Scorpio at 2:40 am eastern standard time. Mars is the point associated with our desire, passion, aggression, and action. In Libra, the “tone” is tied to how we analyze, relate to others, and make decisions. In Scorpio, the “tone” will be shifting to shared resources, intimacy, and emotional transformation.
In Scorpio, Mars, a fire point finds itself in the fixed energy of water, which, as it turns out, is its traditional sign of rulership before the discovery of Pluto, which has been assigned the current rulership of Scorpio. So, Mars is quite comfortable and powerful in this sign even though its elemental design is counter to the sign and house element.
Mars in Scorpio
Perhaps one of the best ways to think of Mars in Scorpio is to think about the role of a spy or secret agent, who penetrates an organization to find out its secrets by hiding in plain sight. Scorpio is the sign that rules elimination, transformation, death/rebirth, and sexuality. Martial energy in Scorpio will use whatever means necessary to achieve its goals, whether that means “sleeping with the enemy”, assassinating the enemy, lying to loved ones, or revealing secrets others would like to keep hidden.
As Mars moves through Scorpio our desire to go after what we want will largely be unfettered and intense. This energy can lead to some profound insights about ourselves but can also easily leave a path of destruction behind us. In many ways, this placement is more intense than being in Aries, where Mars remains the ruling point. Mars in Aries will attack you from the front to test its strength; Mars in Scorpio will stab you in the back and you will never see it coming.
The ingress moment of entry is always the 1st Sabian Symbol of the sign. In this case, our point of desire will enter Scorpio 1, which is “a sightseeing bus”. In the Sabian Symbols book, by Mark Edmund Jones, he writes, “this is a symbol of the individual spirit in its catholicity, and of the naivete and indomitability of its interest in life as a whole. The keyword is FRIENDLINESS.”
“When positive, the degree is a basic impersonality which capitalizes on the opportunity of the moment and helps reorder the situation whenever there is difficulty or dissatisfaction, and when negative, a genius for avoiding any and every actual expenditure of self” (181). Mars should drive us to act on our self-interest in a positive way in order to transform any aspects of our lives that have become stagnant and stale.
At the Personal Level
Understanding the movement of points at the most personal level does require knowledge of your natal astrology chart. With your chart in hand and a solid, basic understanding of astrology, such as knowing the symbols for the signs of the Zodiac and the astronomical and calculated points that make up the layout of the solar system when you were born, you can learn your own flow with points as they leave one sign and enter another.
Based on the date, time, and location of my birth, the 1st House of my chart is ruled by Scorpio, so Mars will be entering my House of Identity on November 19th. It will travel through that part of my chart from November 19th until January 2nd, 2020, urging me to penetrate to the depths of my identity in a ruthless and intense way.
Additionally, I have four key points in this area of my chart; Ceres, Juno, Neptune, and the Ascendant. Ceres (Nourishment) is at 0 degrees, so it will be “struck” first, then Juno (Duty), then Neptune (Spirituality), and finally my Ascendant (Appearance). This transit will be especially intense for me.
When points move through our houses, they bring their unique energy to bear on that area of our lives, both as an emphasis on our own inner development and with external triggers. This particular transit of Mars will be highly personal because it will be moving through my House of Identity and will touch on points involving how I feel nourished, what my duties are, my sense of purpose, and how the world sees and perceives me. I may find myself both energized and unusually aggressive during this particular period of time.
Penetration
In their book Astrology, the Divine Science, Marcia Moore and Mark Douglas give Mars in Scorpio the following keynote: “hidden reserves of power explode into action” and the symbol is: “miners drilling deep into the bowels of the earth strike oil” (137). During this time everyone will be penetrating or penetrated in order to make new discoveries in hidden or dark areas of their lives.
Expect yourself to be more willing to behave selfishly and ruthlessly to get what you want, that is but the shadow of its true energy. Fully realized Scorpio energy is there to eliminate and transform what is old and useless, to force change where change is overdue, necessary, and desperately needed. With Mars present, there is the necessary energy to break the gridlock, overcome resistance, and unveil the most hidden secrets that are harming us.
