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Mars
Tarot Card: Major Arcana Number: Sephirah: Sephirah Number:
The Tower 16 Geburah/Strength 5 ccccccci
The placement of Mars in one's chart is indicative of certain obstacles that need to be surmounted, and also of great talent, dynamism and realizations if one's struggles are overcome and channeled properly. It is a planet of force and Will and corresponds to both the 5th Sephirah on the Tree of Life, Geburah/Strength, and likewise to the 5th line of the Lord's Prayer "thy Will be done." Mars shows where much energy is focused, either for good or ill. As opposed to Venus, which indicates the "soft edges" and lightness of the personality, Mars indicates rough edges and possible harsh aspects in the personality. The positive side of Mars represents great will power and endurance, though negatively it represents exhaustion, infirmity and a propensity to collapse under pressure.
The cauldron of Mars refines all that passes through it. That which is infirm will collapse, though that which pulls through becomes exalted. The Biblical counterpart to Mars is Jehova Sabaoth, or the Lord of Hosts. This can also be interpreted as "the god of armies." Some also feel that the Book of Mark is in fact the Book of Mars, and Mark's stark contrast of individuality and "apartness" from other saints gives credence to this. What we find in these stories and with the Mars archetype is a certain level of imposition from the environment and a need to overcome great obstacles. This is where the personality needs to understand that the loner and warrior-like anger of the Mars archetype cannot be stepped around or avoided. All emotions need to be understood and respected for what they are factually. For Mars, this is within the realm of anger. Of course, there is "anger" and there is "anger," meaning one is constructive and responsive to the environment, and the other is destructive and reactive to the environment. Indeed the line between the two can seem quite thin.
The root ang or an of "anger" is very interesting. For example we see it in the word "angst," which has many important philosophical meanings, for example in the works of Soren Kierkegaard and Martin Heidegger. We also see it in the words "anxiety," "anguish," "anarchy," "animism," "anima," "animal," "animate," and also in the German phrase Sturm und DrANG (storm and stress), which was an artistic and literary movement that eventually became a phrase meaning emotional extremes and general "against the grain" individuality and radical expression (For different expressions of this see also Dadaism, Butoh and Heavy Metal music. There is more on this below in the Lightning Bolt of Realization section). Words with the root ang and an always seem to have a kind of "aliveness" or provocative dynamism about them, which, like the Mars archetype itself, can be for good or ill. One thing that anger, angst, anxiety, anarchy, etc., certainly have in common is that they cannot be entirely avoided, ignored or repressed. Within the shaky Tower of Tarot, we find an archetype of intense creativity and a very keen awareness which needs to express itself at all costs.
The cauldron of Mars refines all that passes through it. That which is infirm will collapse, though that which pulls through becomes exalted. The Biblical counterpart to Mars is Jehova Sabaoth, or the Lord of Hosts. This can also be interpreted as "the god of armies." Some also feel that the Book of Mark is in fact the Book of Mars, and Mark's stark contrast of individuality and "apartness" from other saints gives credence to this. What we find in these stories and with the Mars archetype is a certain level of imposition from the environment and a need to overcome great obstacles. This is where the personality needs to understand that the loner and warrior-like anger of the Mars archetype cannot be stepped around or avoided. All emotions need to be understood and respected for what they are factually. For Mars, this is within the realm of anger. Of course, there is "anger" and there is "anger," meaning one is constructive and responsive to the environment, and the other is destructive and reactive to the environment. Indeed the line between the two can seem quite thin.
The root ang or an of "anger" is very interesting. For example we see it in the word "angst," which has many important philosophical meanings, for example in the works of Soren Kierkegaard and Martin Heidegger. We also see it in the words "anxiety," "anguish," "anarchy," "animism," "anima," "animal," "animate," and also in the German phrase Sturm und DrANG (storm and stress), which was an artistic and literary movement that eventually became a phrase meaning emotional extremes and general "against the grain" individuality and radical expression (For different expressions of this see also Dadaism, Butoh and Heavy Metal music. There is more on this below in the Lightning Bolt of Realization section). Words with the root ang and an always seem to have a kind of "aliveness" or provocative dynamism about them, which, like the Mars archetype itself, can be for good or ill. One thing that anger, angst, anxiety, anarchy, etc., certainly have in common is that they cannot be entirely avoided, ignored or repressed. Within the shaky Tower of Tarot, we find an archetype of intense creativity and a very keen awareness which needs to express itself at all costs.
The Tower ~ Mars - 16
In Rome, Mars was the god of war based off the earlier Greek god Ares, which is where we get the name of the Zodiac sign Aries and which, interestingly enough, is the sign ruled by the planet Mars.
There is a revealing play between Mars and Venus. Venus rules Libra, the Sign of cordial relationships and partnerships, of compromise and even marriage. Mars rules Aries, the Sign of dominion and sometimes "untamed" generative dynamism. Venus is Feminine, and Mars is Masculine. From Earth's perspective, Venus is only one planet closer to the Sun (feminine - inner directed) whereas Mars is only one planet further out (masculine - outer directed). Aries and Libra are also directly opposite each other on the wheel of the Zodiac. So, in general we have these two "opposites" of love (venus-Libra-feminine) and Will (mars-Aries-masculine). It should be noted that the archetype of Mars does not always necessarily indicate things as unpleasant as war or aggression. If we take a cue from the Sign that Mars rules, Aries, and also the Major Arcana card of Aries, The Emperor, then we can get a firm grasp of its broader possible meanings. One must also look toward the Major Arcanum representing Mars itself, The Tower (left). Both The Tower and The Emperor cards in Tarot speak much to creativity and the "creative thrust." Mars is also connected to rulership, domain, provocation and initiation. The dominion aspect of Mars is always "hard won," and in this sense may become parochial, territorial and possessive. Martial Law and the legal term "eminent domain" are very Martian aspects of government, for example, since they give the "legal right" to initiate the use of violent force to intrude upon, seize and confiscate personal property (one can make the argument that this is all government is).
When one looks at the word "Mars", they may notice a connection to the word "mar," meaning to impair, disfigure or damage (The planet Mars itself is known for its giant scar and particularly marred appearance just as St. Mark of the Bible was in fact known for his stumpy and "mutilated" fingers and toes and also having a dismembered thumb). Mars is also where we get the word martial, as in Martial Arts and Martial Law. Mars does indeed represent a commitment of energies; what it will take to pull through and overcome opposition and adversity. Many MARriages may become MARked by certain tense and adversarial energies as well, of feeling that one's personal space is too often breached, that boundaries are too often blurred and where there is much perceived injury whether it be real or imagined. But, through all this there is often a strong commitment and Will to make it work, somehow, someway. Mars is a planet signifying endurance and of surviving hardships of all kinds, and only until death do you part with it (struggle). Understood in this way, life's hardships, which are in many cases greatly illustrated by one's Mars placement, are something to be embraced and worked with, not repressed or worked around. This dedication of energies may eventually lead to a great refinement of craft, and unleash great dynamism and individual talent with the placement. (In the Gene Keys knowledge, one's Design Mars placement is actually called Talent, signifying a very deep talent one may possess if it is harmonically aligned with the other archetypes present)
The Mars archetype is also symbolic of the generative forces in nature that must always break out of an old order to establish the new. We see this every Spring equinox in the sign of Aries when new life begins to arise out of the dormant winter (Notice how the word "arise" itself comes from Aries, and that one's Rising Sign is indicated by the 1st House of Aries, being the house of dynamic Individualism and the Self before worldly conditioning of any kind takes hold). We see this with radical new ideas and concepts that "break new ground" and "shake up the established order," showing us how there's almost always an element of destruction that precedes creation. In Crowley's Book of Thoth, in the section dealing with the first Decan of Aries, the 2 of Wands, Dominion, we read:
There is a revealing play between Mars and Venus. Venus rules Libra, the Sign of cordial relationships and partnerships, of compromise and even marriage. Mars rules Aries, the Sign of dominion and sometimes "untamed" generative dynamism. Venus is Feminine, and Mars is Masculine. From Earth's perspective, Venus is only one planet closer to the Sun (feminine - inner directed) whereas Mars is only one planet further out (masculine - outer directed). Aries and Libra are also directly opposite each other on the wheel of the Zodiac. So, in general we have these two "opposites" of love (venus-Libra-feminine) and Will (mars-Aries-masculine). It should be noted that the archetype of Mars does not always necessarily indicate things as unpleasant as war or aggression. If we take a cue from the Sign that Mars rules, Aries, and also the Major Arcana card of Aries, The Emperor, then we can get a firm grasp of its broader possible meanings. One must also look toward the Major Arcanum representing Mars itself, The Tower (left). Both The Tower and The Emperor cards in Tarot speak much to creativity and the "creative thrust." Mars is also connected to rulership, domain, provocation and initiation. The dominion aspect of Mars is always "hard won," and in this sense may become parochial, territorial and possessive. Martial Law and the legal term "eminent domain" are very Martian aspects of government, for example, since they give the "legal right" to initiate the use of violent force to intrude upon, seize and confiscate personal property (one can make the argument that this is all government is).
When one looks at the word "Mars", they may notice a connection to the word "mar," meaning to impair, disfigure or damage (The planet Mars itself is known for its giant scar and particularly marred appearance just as St. Mark of the Bible was in fact known for his stumpy and "mutilated" fingers and toes and also having a dismembered thumb). Mars is also where we get the word martial, as in Martial Arts and Martial Law. Mars does indeed represent a commitment of energies; what it will take to pull through and overcome opposition and adversity. Many MARriages may become MARked by certain tense and adversarial energies as well, of feeling that one's personal space is too often breached, that boundaries are too often blurred and where there is much perceived injury whether it be real or imagined. But, through all this there is often a strong commitment and Will to make it work, somehow, someway. Mars is a planet signifying endurance and of surviving hardships of all kinds, and only until death do you part with it (struggle). Understood in this way, life's hardships, which are in many cases greatly illustrated by one's Mars placement, are something to be embraced and worked with, not repressed or worked around. This dedication of energies may eventually lead to a great refinement of craft, and unleash great dynamism and individual talent with the placement. (In the Gene Keys knowledge, one's Design Mars placement is actually called Talent, signifying a very deep talent one may possess if it is harmonically aligned with the other archetypes present)
The Mars archetype is also symbolic of the generative forces in nature that must always break out of an old order to establish the new. We see this every Spring equinox in the sign of Aries when new life begins to arise out of the dormant winter (Notice how the word "arise" itself comes from Aries, and that one's Rising Sign is indicated by the 1st House of Aries, being the house of dynamic Individualism and the Self before worldly conditioning of any kind takes hold). We see this with radical new ideas and concepts that "break new ground" and "shake up the established order," showing us how there's almost always an element of destruction that precedes creation. In Crowley's Book of Thoth, in the section dealing with the first Decan of Aries, the 2 of Wands, Dominion, we read:
This card, pertaining to Chokmah in the suit of Fire, represents the Will in its most exalted form. It is an ideal Will, independent of any given object.
...The background of this card shows the power of the planet.
Mars in his own sign Aries, the first of the Signs. It there represents Energy initiating a Current of Force.
The pictorial representation is two Dorjes crossed. The Dorje is the Tibetan symbol of the thunderbolt, the emblem of celestial Power, but more in its destructive than its creative form.
More, that is, in its earlier rather than its later form. For destruction may be regarded as the first step in the creative process. The virgin ovum must be broken in order to fertilize it. Fear and repulsion are therefore the primary reaction to the assault. Then, with understanding of the complete plan, willing surrender rejoices to co-operate.
Six flames issue from the centre. This indicates the influence of the Sun, who is exalted in Aries. This is the creative Will.
...The background of this card shows the power of the planet.
Mars in his own sign Aries, the first of the Signs. It there represents Energy initiating a Current of Force.
The pictorial representation is two Dorjes crossed. The Dorje is the Tibetan symbol of the thunderbolt, the emblem of celestial Power, but more in its destructive than its creative form.
More, that is, in its earlier rather than its later form. For destruction may be regarded as the first step in the creative process. The virgin ovum must be broken in order to fertilize it. Fear and repulsion are therefore the primary reaction to the assault. Then, with understanding of the complete plan, willing surrender rejoices to co-operate.
Six flames issue from the centre. This indicates the influence of the Sun, who is exalted in Aries. This is the creative Will.
The Lightning Bolt of Realization
In almost every Tarot deck, the 16th Major Arcana, the Tower, is depicted as being struck by lightning, or is at least under siege in some way, many times with the top or crown being sheered off with people falling from its summit. You may be reminded of the saying "blowing one's lid." This highly energetic dynamic is absolutely necessary and par for the course if something new and fresh is to supplant anything old and outdated. Note that many times when an individual becomes angry, it is usually over some kind of old and repeating pattern that they are tired of having to put up with. So, naturally, an individual's "vibration" or "frequency" changes in an attempt to sheer off the established pattern and replace it with a new one.
Every positive AHA or "Oh, NOW I get it" moment is marked by this Martian energy as well. In a single flash an old concept or idea is either destroyed or at least greatly transformed, and a new and liberating perspective dawns that changes everything. These moments are usually exciting and inspiring in some degree as one feels that new life is beginning to emerge out of something that seemed so established and set in stone. Sometimes these changes are unpleasant, but the excitement of provocative change is quite positive.
One can also look at the actual seasonal change from winter to spring, for example, which takes place from Pisces to Aries. This is the Spring Equinox when the cold, dead and still winter seems to not let go for the longest time as Spring fast approaches. One becomes anxious for those first signs of spring, and for about one month or so there are no signs at all, even though we know it is right around the corner. Suddenly spring is in full swing as every tree, bush, and flower comes to life in a relative heartbeat. Of course the change is gradual, but in the larger scheme of things it occurs practically in the blink of an eye; a flash.
Science is even finding evidence that massive electrical discharges of "mega-lightning" must have formed the magnificently scarred surface of Mars. This is very apropos considering the subject at hand.
Every positive AHA or "Oh, NOW I get it" moment is marked by this Martian energy as well. In a single flash an old concept or idea is either destroyed or at least greatly transformed, and a new and liberating perspective dawns that changes everything. These moments are usually exciting and inspiring in some degree as one feels that new life is beginning to emerge out of something that seemed so established and set in stone. Sometimes these changes are unpleasant, but the excitement of provocative change is quite positive.
One can also look at the actual seasonal change from winter to spring, for example, which takes place from Pisces to Aries. This is the Spring Equinox when the cold, dead and still winter seems to not let go for the longest time as Spring fast approaches. One becomes anxious for those first signs of spring, and for about one month or so there are no signs at all, even though we know it is right around the corner. Suddenly spring is in full swing as every tree, bush, and flower comes to life in a relative heartbeat. Of course the change is gradual, but in the larger scheme of things it occurs practically in the blink of an eye; a flash.
Science is even finding evidence that massive electrical discharges of "mega-lightning" must have formed the magnificently scarred surface of Mars. This is very apropos considering the subject at hand.
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If the theory is true about "faster than the speed of light" neutrino particles transmitting information throughout the Universe and into human beings, then our species has literally been receiving information about the true history of Mars for aeons of time, which may have consequently appeared subconsciously through our Martian archetypes and artworks. This combined with the very placement of Mars in our solar system adds to its mythology (more on this below in the Mars as an Archetype of Differentiation section). The same might be said of other planets, like Saturn. As discussed in the Saturn section, the symbol of the Cube and its connection to Saturn is very important. When looked at from a corner, the cube takes on the shape of a hexagon. Interestingly, NASA has just discovered a hexagon on the north pole of Saturn in the last few years. Discoveries like this are adding up to be more than mere coincidence.
It has been stated by many that the human genetic code contains within it the true history of humanity as if it were a library. It follows then that if this is true, that our "forgotten" history would seep out in carefully preserved artwork, stories, myths and archetypes. It has been proven that the conscious thinking mind makes up only a fragment of what is really stored within the body and the brain. An individual does not have to make himself breathe, blink, or beat his own heart. And so it follows, does an individual even truly feed himself, or possibly even think for himself? This is where the all important subject of Self study comes into play in that the more one discovers about him or herself, the more they may truly let go from the edges of the river of consciousness and stop holding on to familiar structures for dear life. In one of the higher grades of the Golden Dawn system of initiation, for example, which corresponds to the sephirah Binah, the purpose is for the Adept to progressively "forget," in a sense, and let go of all they had learned, to essentially burn their accumulated knowledge as a kind of sacrifice. One may use structure, rules, systems and paradigms to get to the point of even the possibility of letting go, but it is an incredible leap of faith, in a sense, to trust that flow and dive into the 'Great Sea' of Being.
It has been stated by many that the human genetic code contains within it the true history of humanity as if it were a library. It follows then that if this is true, that our "forgotten" history would seep out in carefully preserved artwork, stories, myths and archetypes. It has been proven that the conscious thinking mind makes up only a fragment of what is really stored within the body and the brain. An individual does not have to make himself breathe, blink, or beat his own heart. And so it follows, does an individual even truly feed himself, or possibly even think for himself? This is where the all important subject of Self study comes into play in that the more one discovers about him or herself, the more they may truly let go from the edges of the river of consciousness and stop holding on to familiar structures for dear life. In one of the higher grades of the Golden Dawn system of initiation, for example, which corresponds to the sephirah Binah, the purpose is for the Adept to progressively "forget," in a sense, and let go of all they had learned, to essentially burn their accumulated knowledge as a kind of sacrifice. One may use structure, rules, systems and paradigms to get to the point of even the possibility of letting go, but it is an incredible leap of faith, in a sense, to trust that flow and dive into the 'Great Sea' of Being.
Subatomic Neutrino Tracks (click image for source)
The archetype of Mars does represent the kind of sharp conflicts the mind may experience in this process of letting go. The lightning bolt of realization both creates and destroys. On one hand it reminds one that the river is making clear cuts through the wilderness of existence, and this river is very ancient. This is the creative aspect. The destructive aspect comes to all the neural pathways, behaviors and life choices that cling to the edges and refuse to surrender to the flow, to face their own annihilation.
An historical example of the Martian act of 'letting go of the rivers' edge' may be found in the Dadaist movement. Dadaism is an art-form that generally relinquishes convention, sense and pre-established styles for something altogether new. It started as a "rejection of the prevailing standards in art" and was very anti-war. The usual mark of Dadaism is pure oddness.
An historical example of the Martian act of 'letting go of the rivers' edge' may be found in the Dadaist movement. Dadaism is an art-form that generally relinquishes convention, sense and pre-established styles for something altogether new. It started as a "rejection of the prevailing standards in art" and was very anti-war. The usual mark of Dadaism is pure oddness.
Just as Dadaism was a powerful and creative voice borne out of protest against authority, war and convention, so too the odd performance art known as Butoh came into existence after WWII in Japan. Some believe this art-form was in part an existential reaction to the horrific bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Like Dadaism, Butoh represents a rejection of authority and a subversion of the conventional and contemporary.
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We can understand the movements of Sturm Und Drang, Dadaism, Butoh and even Heavy Metal music as healthy expressions of the Mars archetype which themselves spring out of a response to those unhealthy expressions as found in authoritarian societal structures. One Iron Fist is met with another but of a different sort. Heavy Metal in particular is a music extremely critical of power structures, hierarchy, conventionality and the human condition. One of the main complaints from those who do not "like" or "get" these art-forms, whether it be Butoh, Dadaism, Metal, etc., is that it is not Art with a capital "A", that it "doesn't make sense," and that it is being contrary, bizarre and loud simply for the sake of being contrary, bizarre and loud; that it is in essence righteously indignant and/or purely narcissistic, serving no "purpose." But this opinion goes to show the lack of understanding in living life artfully. What is one's definition of Art? Is Art something one does, something one is, or is it something one merely listens to or looks at?
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In the African country of Ethiopia there are a people called the Omo who have not lost the sense of artful living, or of the creative impulse to live artfully rather than allotting it solely to "artists" as some kind of "task." One could make the argument that if a society does not express and honor the love of beauty and of form, then "strange" and abrasive art-forms will almost as a kind of necessity spring up to remind humanity of its intensely creative roots and its birth-right to freedom and freedom of expression. In Western society especially one looks around and sees a world built on extremely rigid structures, of many, many squares, boxes, cubicles and slots that are only geared toward the end of material conventionality and functionalism. In this world art is a "sideshow" and has taken a back seat to materialism. Many have become more and more angry at what they see, and one does not have to necessarily be an "artist" as we understand the term to see the problem.
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One train of thought suggests that true beauty is only found within the concept of oblivion or nothing. This train of thought is important to understand in that the greatest artistic movements in history always start out with a spark, or rather a lightning bolt of realization, that eventually ends up deconstructing and transforming the conventions of the time. These lightning bolts appear in history basically to cut off dead weight and revitalize the soul. The wikipedia entry on Dadaism states that the movement itself was "anti-art." This is an odd statement until one peels back the skin a little bit. When "Art" becomes a commodity where there are acceptable forms and standards along with unacceptable forms and standards, the environment is ripe for an altogether new form to come in and change everything. Beethoven (1770-1827) did this with his eccentricity and his very different style of playing and composing that had everything to do with experiments in tension and release and the spaces between soft and loud. His music possessed a kind of dynamic which utilized discord and disharmony in ways that had not yet been seen, and his compositions and playing were also quite loud at times, utilizing the full dynamic between soft, quieter moods and loud, rapturous ones. Music itself was getting louder in the 19th century as orchestras began to grow larger, and this set the stage for new experiments in music. The composer Bach before him (1685-1750) was known for his style of counterpoint (a very Martian concept) which has to do with harmonizing rhythms and song structures that on the surface seem very much at odds with each other and discordant. Metal itself is a very Martian experiment in coaxing meaning, rhythms and harmonies out of what is essentially abrasive noise.
Note that the Omo people of Africa create all their artwork from found objects. They take all the pigments found in nature and transform them into works of art adorning and covering their bodies. Within Western society this would be seen as a mental illness in all likelihood, but the thing that seems to be "laying around" the most currently in "developed nations" is electricity and metal.. literally. Since we are moving into the age of Aquarius, an Air sign of individuality, freedom, eccentricity, (comm) unity, technology and science, it follows that the modes of creative expression that would probably progress the most would be those utilizing those mediums. Western culture is saturated in what is called "electronic polution" or "electric smog" from radio waves, electro magnetic waves radiating from the wires in one's house and the devices they power, and all the wireless internet connections and cell phone signals. The symbol of Aquarius is itself formed like an electrical wave pattern, ♒, signifying a "quivering of the Air" and the transmitting of information, ideas and concepts. The very core meanings of this sign and the coming Age of Aquarius may be readily seen at a Heavy Metal concert, where individuality, ideas and concepts are expressed very loudly through the air using massive amounts of electricity, from the electric guitars to the speakers and amplifiers to the light shows.
Metal band Meshuggah live
The structures of electrical discharges and of lightning are very interesting in that they are dendritic, meaning shaped like the branches of a tree. Rivers, ley-lines, the nervous system, arteries and blood vessels also have this dendritic branch-like structure that form what could be termed "nets" around the earth and within our bodies. The internet is another expression of this dendritic structure. What we are seeing now is the beginning of a much more interconnected and integrated world in which information travels in dendritic fashion across the globe at or near the speed of light. This sudden interconnectedness is preparing humanity for what could possibly manifest as full blown telepathy in the future. Throughout this process the guard must come down between people, and hidden agendas need to be brought to the light. Since this is all very new to humanity, certain areas that are being exposed may seem quite ugly. This is seen in the explosion of alternative media outlets that use the internet to directly challenge "official" news media monopolies on information dissemination while revealing the truth of corrupt power structures. Officialdom is now officially fighting for its life.
Another element that is being exposed are shadow patterns (repressions, biases, prejudices, obsessions, resentments, etc) that exist within individual human beings. This can be readily seen in "internet arguments" that are rampant across the web. People being so interconnected with one another and exposed to so many different points of view so suddenly in our history has lead to information overload, giving way to negative expressions of the Aquarian energy that is coming in. These negative expressions are generally narcissism, xenophobia and an absolute intolerance of ideas or concepts differing from one's own. Aquarius is a sign of the intellect, but the shadow side of intellect is intellectualism in which the intellect is used solely as a weapon against others. In other words, one may use the intellect, but that does not necessarily make them intelligent. This is all in perfect order though since the shadows need to be faced, embraced and exorcised before individuals may move on to the next level of refinement. And, interestingly enough, Heavy Metal seems to currently be the quintessential art form entirely preoccupied with exploring these existential issues of modern life with a fine toothed and highly critical comb, using brutal honesty along with creative intensity to get the message of individuality and freedom firmly implanted in the mind of the listener.
It is obvious that the "old world" is coming apart at the seams. Structures are collapsing and power grabs using advanced propaganda techniques along with high technology are occurring more and more frequently. These changes occurring outsideare also taking place within individuals in very intimate, personal ways. Just as this abrasive form of music called Metal addresses the injustices occurring out in the world, it also addresses the issue of inner discord, rebellion and transformation, and the "growing pain" that comes with it. As Carl Gustav Jung stated, "neurosis is always a substitute for legitimate suffering," meaning that if one does not face down their own shadows and legitimately suffer them, then neurosis, repression and projection is the only other alternative.
One may love or hate strange music and art forms (I personally love them), but the fact remains that the mere existence of it is always a sign of the times. Metal is a very abrasive and Martian exploration of music, though one must always look at the environment in which art springs if one wishes to fully understand it. The famous musician Frank Zappa, mostly known for the scathing and hilarious social commentary imbedded in his music, has always stated that if one does not like the kind of music being created, that instead of blaming the music or finding fault with it,one should rather look at the surrounding environment in which the music is being created. As the saying goes, roses do not grow on thorns, nor thistles on rosebuds. There needs to be the right conditions and environments for things to grow. If these are not present, then one cannot realy expect to see thorns appear on the pedals of a rose. For example in the documentary Heavy Metal in Baghdad, when asked why he and his friends started what was the only Metal band in Iraq, the lead singer/rhythm guitarist of Acrassicauda said "if you really want to know what the attraction is, look around. We are living in a heavy metal world."
Another element that is being exposed are shadow patterns (repressions, biases, prejudices, obsessions, resentments, etc) that exist within individual human beings. This can be readily seen in "internet arguments" that are rampant across the web. People being so interconnected with one another and exposed to so many different points of view so suddenly in our history has lead to information overload, giving way to negative expressions of the Aquarian energy that is coming in. These negative expressions are generally narcissism, xenophobia and an absolute intolerance of ideas or concepts differing from one's own. Aquarius is a sign of the intellect, but the shadow side of intellect is intellectualism in which the intellect is used solely as a weapon against others. In other words, one may use the intellect, but that does not necessarily make them intelligent. This is all in perfect order though since the shadows need to be faced, embraced and exorcised before individuals may move on to the next level of refinement. And, interestingly enough, Heavy Metal seems to currently be the quintessential art form entirely preoccupied with exploring these existential issues of modern life with a fine toothed and highly critical comb, using brutal honesty along with creative intensity to get the message of individuality and freedom firmly implanted in the mind of the listener.
It is obvious that the "old world" is coming apart at the seams. Structures are collapsing and power grabs using advanced propaganda techniques along with high technology are occurring more and more frequently. These changes occurring outsideare also taking place within individuals in very intimate, personal ways. Just as this abrasive form of music called Metal addresses the injustices occurring out in the world, it also addresses the issue of inner discord, rebellion and transformation, and the "growing pain" that comes with it. As Carl Gustav Jung stated, "neurosis is always a substitute for legitimate suffering," meaning that if one does not face down their own shadows and legitimately suffer them, then neurosis, repression and projection is the only other alternative.
One may love or hate strange music and art forms (I personally love them), but the fact remains that the mere existence of it is always a sign of the times. Metal is a very abrasive and Martian exploration of music, though one must always look at the environment in which art springs if one wishes to fully understand it. The famous musician Frank Zappa, mostly known for the scathing and hilarious social commentary imbedded in his music, has always stated that if one does not like the kind of music being created, that instead of blaming the music or finding fault with it,one should rather look at the surrounding environment in which the music is being created. As the saying goes, roses do not grow on thorns, nor thistles on rosebuds. There needs to be the right conditions and environments for things to grow. If these are not present, then one cannot realy expect to see thorns appear on the pedals of a rose. For example in the documentary Heavy Metal in Baghdad, when asked why he and his friends started what was the only Metal band in Iraq, the lead singer/rhythm guitarist of Acrassicauda said "if you really want to know what the attraction is, look around. We are living in a heavy metal world."
Mars as an Archetype of Differentiation
Understanding the true structure and impact of the Martian archetype is critical in understanding one's individual, differentiated life, the ongoing process of what Carl Jung called individuation. In approaching individuation, it is important to see the fundamental dynamic of Mars itself as a planet. From the Venus page:
Just as the constellation of Gemini represents the direction away from Galactic Center whereas the arrow of Sagittarius that is opposite of Gemini points toward it, so too the actual position of Mars and Venus in our own solar system symbolically represents these "opposing forces." Venus is feminine (inwardly directed, inclusive) and Mars is masculine (outwardly directed, exclusive). From our position on Earth, Venus is one planet closer to the Sun, and Mars is one planet out further out from the Sun. Venus also rules Libra, a sign of balance, partnerships and marriage, etc, and Mars rules Aries, the Sign of dominion and sometimes "untamed" generative dynamism. Aries and Libra are themselves directly opposite each other on the wheel of the Zodiac as well. So, in general we have these two opposites of love (venus-Libra-feminine) and will (mars-Aries-masculine).
Venus as the "morning star" or "lucifer" is important here. Being that Venus is one planet closer to the Sun from us, astronomically and astrologically Venus can never be opposite of the Sun in an astrological chart. If you look at a chart, Venus and Mercury are usually huddled closely around the Sun somewhere. You could think of them as "helpers" of a sort. Venus adds a kind of "ornamentation" and beauty to wherever the Sun is being expressed in the chart.
But, Mars is the first planet from the Sun where we do have the possibility of oppositions when making calculations from the Earth. Remember, Venus = feminine = inny, Mars = masculine = outty. Mars is the planet of "war" and masculine will, of "Fire Power," "opposition" and sharp angles, etc. Venus balances this by accentuating the Sun, our star, by being so close to it and "never in opposition." This adds to the "all inclusive" rounded/soft features and fertile/pregnant nature of the Venus archetype. Earth itself is the pivot between these inner directed and outer directed dualities, just as earth is also the pivot between the inward Galactic Center (Sagittarius) and its twin the outer Galactic Rim (Gemini, the twins) and beyond. Symbolically you might say this all points to you, ultimately, that is how you are the absolute center of your Universe and how your individual perspective really is an important thing.
Just as the constellation of Gemini represents the direction away from Galactic Center whereas the arrow of Sagittarius that is opposite of Gemini points toward it, so too the actual position of Mars and Venus in our own solar system symbolically represents these "opposing forces." Venus is feminine (inwardly directed, inclusive) and Mars is masculine (outwardly directed, exclusive). From our position on Earth, Venus is one planet closer to the Sun, and Mars is one planet out further out from the Sun. Venus also rules Libra, a sign of balance, partnerships and marriage, etc, and Mars rules Aries, the Sign of dominion and sometimes "untamed" generative dynamism. Aries and Libra are themselves directly opposite each other on the wheel of the Zodiac as well. So, in general we have these two opposites of love (venus-Libra-feminine) and will (mars-Aries-masculine).
Venus as the "morning star" or "lucifer" is important here. Being that Venus is one planet closer to the Sun from us, astronomically and astrologically Venus can never be opposite of the Sun in an astrological chart. If you look at a chart, Venus and Mercury are usually huddled closely around the Sun somewhere. You could think of them as "helpers" of a sort. Venus adds a kind of "ornamentation" and beauty to wherever the Sun is being expressed in the chart.
But, Mars is the first planet from the Sun where we do have the possibility of oppositions when making calculations from the Earth. Remember, Venus = feminine = inny, Mars = masculine = outty. Mars is the planet of "war" and masculine will, of "Fire Power," "opposition" and sharp angles, etc. Venus balances this by accentuating the Sun, our star, by being so close to it and "never in opposition." This adds to the "all inclusive" rounded/soft features and fertile/pregnant nature of the Venus archetype. Earth itself is the pivot between these inner directed and outer directed dualities, just as earth is also the pivot between the inward Galactic Center (Sagittarius) and its twin the outer Galactic Rim (Gemini, the twins) and beyond. Symbolically you might say this all points to you, ultimately, that is how you are the absolute center of your Universe and how your individual perspective really is an important thing.
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Venus - Feminine - Inner directed
Rounded & Soft Features Inclusive - No Possibility of Opposition Agreeability & Unity Nurture - The assurance of survival - Synchronization of events 
The Empress ~ 3 - Venus
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Mars - Masculine - Outer directed
Rough Features With Sharper Angles Exclusive - Possibility of Opposition Contrast & Differentiation Nature - No assurance of 'survival' - Perceived chance & chaos 
The Tower ~ 16 - Mars
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This can be taken a few steps further in understanding the differentiated and "oppositional" aspects of the Martian archetype, and how utterly critical this is for growth and development. As stated, Venus is feminine and Mars is masculine. We've seen the reasons as to why in the very structure of our solar system. This is also mirrored in the acts of sex and of child birth itself at the point where the being is no longer within the womb of the Venusian Mother (no opposition), but is now in spacial opposition to her, which itself creates a strong connection and a bond that could not have formed otherwise. This is precisely the point where one's astrological birth time is to be noted, the moment the child leaves the space of the mother, not a moment before or after. This is the first individualistic and distinctly Martian act of differentiation at the beginning of the beings' life.
Within the martian world of inertia we have things like Martial Arts, a discipline in which one must defend himself against an opponent. As stated earlier, the word "martial" comes from Mars, and "opponent" obviously derives from someone being opposite of you, an opposition. The reason Mars is such an important archetype of differentiation is found through the reality of the contrast between different points of Will within a field, space or plane; that is, centeredness. One can see this symbolized in the symbol of Mars itself being a circle with a single arrow coming out of it and pointing in a single direction. It is symbolic of individual Will. No two Wills are alike, "every man and every woman is a star,"and when absorbed in a process of discovery within a field of knowledge or study, or when engaged other people on the fields of sport or war, one can expect either for things to get competitive, for tensions to rise, or at least for a kind of anxiousness and angst to flood one's senses; namely, for one's endurance to be tested. This process is precisely how various crafts become greatly refined over the course of time through trial and error, whether talking about a craft such as carpentry, an art such as music, intellectual pursuits, philosophy, or even martial arts. To better understand this dynamic of trial and error and refinement through time one can look at the sphere attributed to Mars on the Tree of Life, the 5th sphere of Geburah/Strength, which again corresponds to the 5th line of the Lord's Prayer, "thy Will be done."
Within the martian world of inertia we have things like Martial Arts, a discipline in which one must defend himself against an opponent. As stated earlier, the word "martial" comes from Mars, and "opponent" obviously derives from someone being opposite of you, an opposition. The reason Mars is such an important archetype of differentiation is found through the reality of the contrast between different points of Will within a field, space or plane; that is, centeredness. One can see this symbolized in the symbol of Mars itself being a circle with a single arrow coming out of it and pointing in a single direction. It is symbolic of individual Will. No two Wills are alike, "every man and every woman is a star,"and when absorbed in a process of discovery within a field of knowledge or study, or when engaged other people on the fields of sport or war, one can expect either for things to get competitive, for tensions to rise, or at least for a kind of anxiousness and angst to flood one's senses; namely, for one's endurance to be tested. This process is precisely how various crafts become greatly refined over the course of time through trial and error, whether talking about a craft such as carpentry, an art such as music, intellectual pursuits, philosophy, or even martial arts. To better understand this dynamic of trial and error and refinement through time one can look at the sphere attributed to Mars on the Tree of Life, the 5th sphere of Geburah/Strength, which again corresponds to the 5th line of the Lord's Prayer, "thy Will be done."
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There are 3 Pillars on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, the Pillar of Severity (the feminine pillar), the Pillar of Mercy (the masculine pillar), and the Middle Pillar in the center. The feminine pillar, the Pillar of Severity, concerns planes of existence, or fields of existence, where many exist together "within one sphere," or in terms of Binah, the Great Mother, all (EL) exist within the Great Womb of the Universe. Binah may be considered the "Holy Spirit" of the "Father, Son, Holy Spirit" trinity and is the ultimate expression of this feminine function of creation, but when filtering down into the the other areas of this Pillar of Severity, the expressions change. The sphere of Binah has been given the title "Elohim" which means "many god's" and is feminine in nature. On page 7 of Aleister Crowley's 777 And Other Qabalistic Writings we read:
Among the Sephiroth, jointly and severally, we find the development of the persons and attributes of God. Of these some are male and some female. Now, for some reason or other best known to themselves, the translators of the Bibles have carefully crowded out of existence and smothered up every reference to the fact that Deity is both masculine and feminine. They have translated a feminine plural by a masculine singular in the case of the word Elohim. They have, however, left an inadvertent admission of their knowledge that it was plural in Genesis iv. 26: "And Elohim said : Let Us make man." Again (v. 27), how could Adam be made in the image of Elohim, male and female, unless the Elohim were male and female also? The word Elohim is a plural formed from the feminine singular ALH, Eloh, by adding IM to the word. But inasmuch as IM is usually a termination of the masculine plural and is here added to a feminine noun, it gives to the word Elohim the sense of a female potency united to a masculine idea, and thereby capable of producing an offspring. Now, we hear much of the Father and the Son, but we hear nothing of the Mother in the ordinary religions of the day. But in the Qabalah we find that the Ancient of Days conforms Himself simultaneously into the Father and the Mother, and thus begets the Son......this Mother is Elohim.
All individuals, just like all stars, are on a specific path. All a star can do is follow its course through space. Individuals are the same, though there is difficulty in that there are many other people projecting their own path onto other's as if their way is the "only way." This is in fact true in that it really is the only way, for them. But this projection occurs through all levels of society, within all groups and also within all subjects from philosophy to science. This is where the importance of asserting one's Will through competition and trial and error leading to refinement comes into play. Not all pursuits are competitive, but there is a competitive spirit inherent in them. For example, why is there a "first chair" position for orchestras, like the first chair flutist, or the first chair trombone player? Why would that even exist? It's because the individual is being recognized as being "the lead" or "the example." Even if all the players do not necessarily need a "leader" or an "example," achieving the position of first chair is still honorary and is accepted as such. Why do we have award ceremonies for movies, plays, documentaries, music and independent films? Why are individual lives honored and celebrated at death? One might say that the Saturnian judges who sit "on top" in Binah and judge all the Martian (martial) refinement of craft of the individuals below in Geburah, take it upon themselves to measure and weigh who is deserving of accolades, awards and medals, and who is "not." One might say that their judgements are ultimately subjective and purely arbitrary, that there really is no "best" or "worst," but judges are (usually) very familiar with the particular craft they are judging and have a fine palate, and having gone through the processes of refinement themselves, are experts in determining what really deserves honors. Of course politics can exist within this situation, and "fairness" isn't always guaranteed.
Among the Sephiroth, jointly and severally, we find the development of the persons and attributes of God. Of these some are male and some female. Now, for some reason or other best known to themselves, the translators of the Bibles have carefully crowded out of existence and smothered up every reference to the fact that Deity is both masculine and feminine. They have translated a feminine plural by a masculine singular in the case of the word Elohim. They have, however, left an inadvertent admission of their knowledge that it was plural in Genesis iv. 26: "And Elohim said : Let Us make man." Again (v. 27), how could Adam be made in the image of Elohim, male and female, unless the Elohim were male and female also? The word Elohim is a plural formed from the feminine singular ALH, Eloh, by adding IM to the word. But inasmuch as IM is usually a termination of the masculine plural and is here added to a feminine noun, it gives to the word Elohim the sense of a female potency united to a masculine idea, and thereby capable of producing an offspring. Now, we hear much of the Father and the Son, but we hear nothing of the Mother in the ordinary religions of the day. But in the Qabalah we find that the Ancient of Days conforms Himself simultaneously into the Father and the Mother, and thus begets the Son......this Mother is Elohim.
All individuals, just like all stars, are on a specific path. All a star can do is follow its course through space. Individuals are the same, though there is difficulty in that there are many other people projecting their own path onto other's as if their way is the "only way." This is in fact true in that it really is the only way, for them. But this projection occurs through all levels of society, within all groups and also within all subjects from philosophy to science. This is where the importance of asserting one's Will through competition and trial and error leading to refinement comes into play. Not all pursuits are competitive, but there is a competitive spirit inherent in them. For example, why is there a "first chair" position for orchestras, like the first chair flutist, or the first chair trombone player? Why would that even exist? It's because the individual is being recognized as being "the lead" or "the example." Even if all the players do not necessarily need a "leader" or an "example," achieving the position of first chair is still honorary and is accepted as such. Why do we have award ceremonies for movies, plays, documentaries, music and independent films? Why are individual lives honored and celebrated at death? One might say that the Saturnian judges who sit "on top" in Binah and judge all the Martian (martial) refinement of craft of the individuals below in Geburah, take it upon themselves to measure and weigh who is deserving of accolades, awards and medals, and who is "not." One might say that their judgements are ultimately subjective and purely arbitrary, that there really is no "best" or "worst," but judges are (usually) very familiar with the particular craft they are judging and have a fine palate, and having gone through the processes of refinement themselves, are experts in determining what really deserves honors. Of course politics can exist within this situation, and "fairness" isn't always guaranteed.