Killer Instincts: Mars and Pluto in Aspect

eople with Mars-Pluto aspects have a reputation for being ruthless and desiring to control others. Outsiders would be surprised to learn just how much self-control Mars-Pluto can have. It takes self-control to cope with the powerful impulses that Mars-Pluto creates. Mars-Pluto people, who aren’t punching walls, throwing things, yelling, stewing in their juices or running someone off the road, know a thing or two about how to handle the beast within. They’ve mastered (at least somewhat) their instinctual nature. Their instincts no longer control them, they control their instincts.

The ability to keep anger in check is not a result of denying or repressing instinctual urges. Mars-Pluto can’t sidestep aggressive physical impulses by pretending they’re not there. They have to wrestle with inner monsters and accept that these monsters are part of their makeup- not something outside, and not something that will go away. Mars-Pluto has more in common with animals and beasts than they may care to accept. Mars-Pluto aspects are similar to the Strength card of the tarot. The essence of both is the need to reign in and gain mastery over passionate urges while resisting the temptation to crush them altogether. Giving instincts expression, but not allowing those instincts to run wild, is the goal.

Pressure release

With Mars-Pluto the heat builds up inside like a pressure cooker. Mars-Pluto people need a way to release pressure on a regular basis or they will explode. The cause can be buried rage or unaddressed anger (popular choices) but really, anything can trigger this aspect. Mars, planet of physical action, has to do something with energy and it doesn’t care what that something is. Pluto wants that something to be consuming. The best solution would be something like a controlled burn.

Controlled force

Some Mars-Pluto people are unaware that they have this energy. They are oblivious to how overpowering, smothering, and overbearing, bullying or just plain rude they can be. They need to control their energy by choosing when, and how, to apply exactly the right amount of pressure and force to any given situation or activity: never overdoing it and never under-doing it. There is power in taking action: applying energy and force makes things happen. Bruce Lee had a Mars-Pluto square; he exemplifies using controlled force.

Do something

Mars-Pluto people have to take their excess energy and put it to use. They have to do something with their energy. If they sit on it, they can become abusive, resentful, destructive and bitter. The best remedy is to find something that they are passionate about and immerse themselves in doing that thing. It can be a labor-intensive job, pulling weeds, exercising, sex, housework, boxing, target practice, paintball, video games, knife-throwing, carving, surgery, piercing, or tattooing, but whatever it is, it had better be physically draining, violent*, or both. Mars-Pluto people are flat-out nicer when they’ve physically exhausted themselves or satisfied their blood-lust.

* I hope everyone knows I’m not implying that Mars-Pluto people should physically hurt themselves or any other person.