Mary Jo Wevers

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Courage: The Divine Virtue of Aries

Divine virtues are qualities our Soul, or higher Self, would like us to cultivate and express in life in order to grow spiritually. Our life challenges are designed to help us develop divine virtues within ourselves. Rob Schwartz (yoursoulsplan.com) recognizes some of the divine virtues as being “Master Key” virtues. They facilitate the development of other virtues by providing an access point for them.

I associate the divine virtue of courage with the sign of Aries. Rob Schwartz includes courage as one of the Master Key virtues. Courage is associated with all other virtues, because it is required at their testing point. As Maya Angelou states, “Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.” 

A cardinal fire sign, Aries is concerned with the future and needs to create new goals and objectives, new beginnings in life. It is a daring, strong pioneer and adventurer. It stands alone, not needing to depend on another. Its urge is to move forward, directing its independent personal energy outwardly into the world. 

Aries creates new life experiences from self-awareness of its needs and desires. It has the courage to move into new experiences without knowing the outcome. Aries operates spontaneously and instinctively, bravely facing obstacles, challenges and limitations head-on. Not put off by mistakes or failures, it begins again.

Any planets in Aries in your natal horoscope, or Houses containing the sign of Aries, indicate how and where you can cultivate the Divine Virtue of courage and take action independently in life. This will help you move forward, taking action as an autonomous force creating your own future. 

“Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”     – T. S. Eliot

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The Hero Archetype

The Sun in Aries is a self-motivated risk taker. It faces life challenges with energy and resolve. Not dependent on others, it has the courage to go it alone. Eager for new beginnings and novel experiences, it is willing to start over again when faced with failure. This attitude and approach to life gives it the ability to bounce back from misfortune, and venture into unexplored territory.

The Sun in Aries is akin to the archetypal Hero in myths and stories. The central theme in these stories is that of overcoming obstacles to attain a goal, while staying true to ones self. The Hero’s journey is what Carl Jung called the process of individuation, whereby the Hero discovers their true feelings, unique potential, and what they are capable of in life.

The Hero is not a natural born hero. In myths and stories they are often flawed, have less than ideal early life circumstances, or suffer from traumatic events. In this regard, the Hero represents each of us. Our personal stories contain elements found in the myths and stories of heroes. Perhaps we experienced a less than ideal early childhood, or family dynamics. Or maybe we were separated from our home and family, or dire circumstances lead to our leaving. 

Like the Hero, our departure from what was familiar sent us out into the world where we gained new experiences. We may have set out on a quest, to recover something missing in our lives, or within our self. Out in the world, we gain a more mature perspective on our situation, based on our real life experiences. We may go through a great trial or ordeal, a period of darkness, and as a result are transformed, and reborn anew. Ultimately, like the Hero, we may return home, albeit metaphorically, as we return to our true Self.

We can adopt the attitude, traits and behaviors of the Sun in Aries when we face difficult challenges, when we experience unprecedented changes in life, and when we undergo setbacks. We then become the living embodiment of the Hero archetype.

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” 

― Nelson Mandela

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Mars, Planetary Ruler of Aries

The astrological sign of Aries is ruled by the planet Mars. The “Red Planet” is the first planet beyond earth in our solar system. Named after the Roman god of war, its glyph resembles the shield and spear of Mars ♂.

Mars represents the masculine, yang, or outwardly directed movement of our personal energy that propels us into action. In physics it is understood that movement creates energy. When we move our physical body, or use it to create movement, we generate energy. We channel our energy through our actions. We feel vibrant and alive. Mars rules our basic needs and primal urges to achieve our wants and desires.

In the astrological chart Mars represents our desire or urge to take action and wield our life force and vitality in the world. The sign of the planet Mars and the house it occupies in your chart shows the manner and ways you are inclined to act. Mars defines how we feel vigorous, exuberant and dynamic. It indicates how we take initiative, assert our will and exert ourselves. It shows how our enthusiastic, pioneering, adventurousness spirit is expressed. It describes how we can feel potent, bold, take risks and be confident and self-assured. It delineates where we have the courage to be decisive, spontaneous and to take action.

Mars is forthright, insistent and determined. When meeting with resistance or conflicting desires, it uses its force to assert itself. Mars represents our aggressive urges and both our external and internal conflicts and struggles. Mars rules war, the forceful power and will to overcome opposition and rivals. It shows the ways we can be impulsive or impatient, reckless and rash, destructive and accident-prone, consequently causing physical harm to our self or others. Mars is associated with burns and fevers, accidents, trauma, pain, inflammation and arthritis.

Mars rules our need for physical excitement and stimulation, including physical activity, competition and exertion. Mars describes how we use our physical body and defines our stamina and energy levels. Mars drives our primordial need to physically connect with another on a sexual level. It describes what we find physically attractive and sexually exciting in another person.

For the next two months the planet Mars will transit the sign of Capricorn, giving it a more goal-oriented, grounded and practical expression. Mars in Capricorn asserts itself through concrete achievement requiring diligence, perseverance and hard work. It is interested in activities that are practical and create social structure and organization that have lasting value and provide stability and security. This month, the solar energy of Aries is channeled through Mars in Capricorn, directing us to use our will to act responsibly, with self-discipline, and to honor the past as we build for the future.

“Genuine beginnings begin within us, even when they are brought to our attention by external opportunities.”     – William Bridges 

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Aries, Sign of Bold Beginnings

Monday March 20th the Sun will leave the empathetic and flowing emotional water sign of Pisces and enter the energetic and self-aware fire sign of Aries. This transition marks the beginning of Spring, the Vernal Equinox, and a new cycle of seasons. Aries will propel us into new activity and projects with its abundant energy, courage, sense of wonder and adventure.

The outwardly directed force of this cardinal fire sign provides vitality and vigor for new life in the world as we move from winter into spring. Bulbs thrust their green shoots up through the cold, wet ground. Sap rises in trees and vines, and buds burst open on branches. Dormant animals begin to stir and migrating birds return to raise their young. The world is reborn anew.

The glyph for Aries resembles a ram’s head. Just like the ram, Aries charges ahead in a straight forward, courageous manner. He approaches life directly and with optimism. Fresh starts and bold beginnings stimulate the creative, pioneering and adventurous spirit of Aries.

The key phrase for Aries is “I Am.” He is self-aware, independent and self-reliant. Self-assured and self-motivated, Aries’ strong drive, confidence, and ambitious spirit make him a natural born leader. Yet Aries needs no followers and is satisfied with his own company as he strikes out on his own fulfilling his desires.

Aries is active and competitive. He is in tune with his physical body, and enjoys athletic challenges where he can test his strength and endurance. His ambitious nature and physicality combine to make him a formidable athlete and competitor.

A brave risk-taker, Aries enthusiastically explores unknown territories and dives head first into new activities. Assertive and somewhat impulsive, Aries can be prone to accidents. Restrictions and boundaries frustrate Aries, and may cause his fiery temper to flare. With his “me first” attitude, Aries can tend to dominate others. He can get into conflict, becoming aggressive and explosive. He has no qualms asserting himself in disputes and is the consummate warrior. At his worst, Aries is selfish and self-absorbed, brash and uncooperative, harmful and destructive.

Although Aries is attracted to new ideas and projects, he doesn’t necessarily follow them through to completion, as he easily becomes bored and impatient. Rather, his job is to sow the seeds which others can successfully cultivate and bring to fruition. Not all new beginnings come to completion and bear fruit. However this does not concern Aries, who never looks back and is always excited with the prospect of another fresh start.

Archetypes for Aries include the warrior, the competitive athlete, the adventurer, and the pioneer. Fire fighters, soldiers, and practitioners of martial arts are contemporary Aries examples. The color for Aries is red. Iron is its metal. The gem for Aries is the diamond. Geraniums, honeysuckle, thistle and all thorn-bearing trees belong to Aries. Parts of the body governed by Aries include the head, eyes and face, muscles and red blood cells.

“Move and the way will open.”

 – Zen Proverb