This post is inspired by the following quote from Linda Goodman from “Love Signs”
“Aries often dissipates the Mars energy in the premature exposure of emotional reaction, fighting on the defensive. A Ram never attacks unless struck first. Remember that Aries is the symbolic Infant of the zodiac, and infants don’t yell unless they’re ignored, or someone jabs them with a sharp safety pin. After all, it’s the only defense they have against pain or neglect. When more serious danger threatens, their guardian, Mars, comes to the rescue. Scorpios, however, are masters of the offensive - an offensive laced with clever, cool strategy, exquisite patience and an uncanny sense of the weakness of others. You won’t find Scorpios coming unstrung, running hither and thither, or striking wildly. When they strike, it’s straight on target, with deadly precision.”
Where Aries and Scorpio rules in your natal chart shows where we are defensive and offensive. Aries shows where you are defensive, for Aries rules the defensive part of combat with Mars. Scorpio shows where you are offensive, for Scorpio rules the offensive part of combat with Mars. In a sense, Aries can often show where you feel vulnerable while Scorpio can show where you feel powerful potential.
Looking where Mars and Pluto are in your chart can often explain why we protect ourselves, whether it be through offense or defense.
If you have an Aries/Libra or Taurus/Scorpio interception, you may feel as if you have a weakness. With an Aries/Libra interception, you may feel defenseless and vulnerable with no walls while with a Taurus/Scorpio interception, you would feel powerless and weak with no weapons. To find your source of protection and power, you would have to look at your Mars and Pluto, depending on which sign is intercepted. With duplications, you may feel as if you have too much protection. With an Aries duplication, you can feel highly defensive with many walls to protect you while with a Scorpio duplication, you can feel highly offensive with too many weapons at your disposal.
ARIES RULING THE HOUSES + MARS IN THE HOUSES
You get defensive when you feel that people are threatening your ___. You feel that you will ___ if you don’t defend yourself.
Aries ruling the 1st: self-expression / not be able to express yourself the way you want to
Aries ruling the 2nd: values and confidence / not be able to feel secure
Aries ruling the 3rd: words and intelligence / be seen to be intellectually inferior
Aries ruling the 4th: family and roots / not be able to feel comfortable with your beginnings
Aries ruling the 5th: your fun and passions / not be able to easily access your inspirations
Aries ruling the 6th: daily life / not be able to get through your day
Aries ruling the 7th: one-on-one interactions / not be able to establish good relationships with others
Aries ruling the 8th: secret self and tendencies / not be able to truly gain intimate acceptance from others
Aries ruling the 9th: beliefs and views / not have a strong sense of direction and purpose in life
Aries ruling the 10th: ambitions and goals / lose your power and mark on the world
Aries ruling the 11th: friends and community / will not belong anywhere
Aries ruling the 12th: inner self / not be able to forgive and accept yourself
You get defensive because you feel that your ___ is/are fragile and/or not creditable.
Mars in the 1st: self-expression
Mars in the 2nd: confidence
Mars in the 3rd: mind
Mars in the 4th: comfort
Mars in the 5th: inspiration
Mars in the 6th: routine
Mars in the 7th: relationships
Mars in the 8th: dark side
Mars in the 9th: beliefs
Mars in the 10th: goals
Mars in the 11th: community
Mars in the12th: subconscious
SCORPIO RULING THE HOUSES + PLUTO IN THE HOUSES
You get offensive when you feel that people are threatening your ___. You feel that you have the potential to powerfully ___ over any threat.
Scorpio ruling the 1st: self-expression / express yourself
Scorpio ruling the 2nd: values and confidence / assert your security and self-esteem
Scorpio ruling the 3rd: words and intelligence / communicate
Scorpio ruling the 4th: family and roots / have peace
Scorpio ruling the 5th: your fun and passions / utilize your inspirations
Scorpio ruling the 6th: daily life / organize and analyze your life
Scorpio ruling the 7th: one-on-one interactions / work with others
Scorpio ruling the 8th: secret self and tendencies / empower yourself
Scorpio ruling the 9th: beliefs and views / expand your mind
Scorpio ruling the 10th: ambitions and goals / establish yourself
Scorpio ruling the 11th: friends and community / transform your sense of belonging
Scorpio ruling the 12th: inner self / utilize your subconscious tendencies
You get offensive because you feel that your ___ is a potentially strong part of you.
Pluto in the 1st: self-expression
Pluto in the 2nd: confidence
Pluto in the 3rd: mind
Pluto in the 4th: comfort
Pluto in the 5th: inspiration
Pluto in the 6th: routine
Pluto in the 7th: relationships
Pluto in the 8th: dark side
Pluto in the 9th: beliefs
Pluto in the 10th: goals
Pluto in the 11th: community
Pluto in the 12th: subconscious