The Triple Threat: Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn in the Natal Chart

Mars, Jupiter and Saturn in your natal chart

Key Points

• Mars Action
• Jupiter Belief
• Saturn Discipline

The puzzle pieces of life is the game we continually sort, to survive, to find joy, purpose and eventual comfort. We are constantly walking life’s hills and valleys, dips and turns. We aim for the rainbows to bask in the sunshine. It is these periods that can get us through the rough times. The rays that encourage us to fight for what we want, to reach our goals and dreams.

How and what we define success is based on our own beliefs and threshold of happiness. Monetary wealth may not be the goal for everyone. In contrast, spiritual achievements can be the ultimate fulfilment. Ideally, we reach both in balance. Some of us are meant to shove mountains aside to reach what we want, to knock down looming barriers. While for others, the path is much smoother, the journey provides open doors, wings easily sprout for swifter flight. Our will, beliefs and tenacity constantly challenged according to our natural disposition and life purpose. What we are provided, the challenges we need to overcome and how well we push through can be assessed in our personal natal chart.

By looking at the elements, the complex parts of our personal charts, we can see whether we have the chops for success, the stamina, courage, vision and patience to see us to the finish line. It is the stuff that we are made of, yet far from static. A working progress, we co-create and cultivate with the cosmos. Each planet takes a role, symbolic of the different parts of selves. The planets can be divided into two parts, the inner orbit (inside the Earth’s orbit from the Sun) represent our personal selves, the outer planets connect us to the social world, how we integrate with others on a collective level. Mars sits right outside the personal orbit, symbolically, the red planet shows how we take action and grab hold of what we want. Jupiter and Saturn are the intergenerational planets. The qualities of each planet represent our system of cultural beliefs and behaviour. Uranus, Neptune and Pluto work on an abstract level, our subconscious collective connection beyond the material world.

Having a strong combination of natal Mars, Jupiter and Saturn can definitely help you successfully navigate the social world. It determines our fight or flight mode, our willingness to stay in the game, despite the impossible. Or cave and become cornered by self-defeat and our own set of ways.

It’s start with Mars action.

In our birth chart Mars indicates what we desire, our will to survive. How much endurance we have, and what motivates us. We take action to fight for what we want. The sign Mars falls in reveals what fuels our desires, keeps our passion burning. Mars works best in its own element of fire, especially in its own home sign of Aries, as well as watery, yet fierce Scorpio. Both regenerative energy, flaming the Mars natural warrior stamina. Detriment in Libra and Taurus, the energies become an impediment to Mars inherently forceful energy. Tripping up, being held back in some way. This can be the same for the remaining mind-oriented Aquarius and Gemini energy. With the exception of Scorpio, Mars does not cope too well in the emotionally swayed water signs but can be quite patient and strategic in Virgo and Capricorn — particularly Capricorn, being at exaltation.

Next in orbit is Jupiter

Our actions, how we take on the world through our Mars will, force and desire is intertwined by our Jupiterian morals or the lack of it. How we exert ourselves is determined by our beliefs. At the same time, we can change our beliefs along the way, as we learn and experience life through our decisions. We develop wisdom to shape mature intended actions. The signs can tell us ones overview of the world, philosophical lens. Jupiter in the fixed signs will hold onto beliefs with fervour. In the mutable signs, Jupiter qualities expand fluidly, yet can sometimes turn wayward, without intended direction. When in a cardinal sign, there is much belief in the self and taking initiative.

Jupiter can also tells us about how we create joy and optimism. In the water signs, we find pleasure in depth and emotional connection. We are enthusiastic about the practical side to life with earth signs, happiness is found through the earthly senses and from grounded, realistic beliefs. As the benefic planet, Jupiter is also the good karma we have brought into this life, from which we can withdraw and benefit. If Jupiter is found in the material houses (2nd, 6th, 10th), the native finds luck in material resources, work and career. In the social houses, the native will benefit from siblings, partnerships and social circles. The watery emotional houses will feel supported internally, fortunate with family, marriage and the higher realms. The fire houses show support on a creative level, confidence in self and overall journey in life. Our natal Jupiter can tell us how well we deal with the pitfalls of life. It is our beacon of light, shining down hope during our darkest times.

Then comes Saturn

Saturn is the opposite of the Jupiter optimism, it is the part of us that doesn’t rely on pure luck, it works on the tangible level. Believing the formula for success requires focus, determination, hard work and setting goals. Saturn also relies on rules, structures and duty to the order of society. The energy creates stability and growth through habits and defined characteristics. We face the consequences, the extreme of our actions or the lack of it through Saturn. At some point, we consider how our actions and decisions determine the consequences that become our reality.

However, without the endurance of fighting spirit Mars and the optimism and belief of Jupiter, Saturn can have us live a dull existence. A life of complacency, with no motivation for growth, our existence can become meaningless. The Jupiter parts of ourselves is what causes expansion, daring us to dream, think bigger, beyond our capabilities. It is our Mars that holds the torch, aiming for the finish line, flames continually burning of self-belief, Jupiterian wisdom and truth. Saturn directs and gives structure to our Mars desire and action, an outline to what we want to reach, in order to attain authority, status and satisfaction.

Jeff Bezos

With a strong combination of the three planets, Jeff Bezos’ chart is pumped in a supply of flowing energy.  He is an Aries rising, which usually indicates a synergetic expression between how he sees, and acts on the different areas of his life. Being made of powerful Martian force, he goes out into the world, with pure will, courage and confidence. In the exalted energy of Capricorn, he is focused, determined and has the willingness to stick to his goals to reach the finish line. All this energy goes to his 10th house of career, status and legacy, which gives him a leg up in the game. Saturn also strong in Aquarius, in his 11th house, gives him the natural propensity to push boundaries further, with authority—gaining eventual respect from his peers and within his community. His Jupiter in Aries is the supply of multivitamins that helps boost his will, courage and stamina. He is very confident in what he does and his beliefs are of a trailblazer nature, full of self-initiative and expanded bravery.

Karl

Now looking at my clients chart, who also has Jupiter in Aries strong in its own house of the 8th, my client Karl, is endowed with a keen business sense, and lucky within business partnerships. His Aries’ enterprising nature has given him the Herculean spirit to take risks. However, Mars in Gemini is in his 10th, just like Bezos. But unlike Bezos, it is in a sign that can get scattered, takes on too much, gets bored of a project, and tends to require constant stimulation. Saturn is weakened in the sign of Cancer. Without the proper discipline from the father of the cosmos, Jupiter qualities can spread like wild fire, while fanning Mars curious energy into uncontrollable flames. Both ferocious energy require Saturn’s focus and restrain. Saturn sits in his 11th house. Despite reaching a bit of success, he has never quite been satisfied by his accomplishments. The Gemini energy keeps his energy too charged to settle and breath in the moment. He’s had the tendency to have many projects on the go. His creative talents show in all of them but he has abandoned ship too many times, which has sullied trust with partnerships. Having Saturn in Cancer is quite hard to cope with. Though he works effortlessly, to the bone, he has never seen wealth and continues to struggle financially. His Piscean nature further expands his lack of focus at times. He has all the chops to reach the apex of his desire, but without the valuable Saturnian qualities of discipline and respect for time, inconsistency will always be a looming enemy, blocking the path towards established longevity and satisfaction.

Both chart show a workaholic nature. Bezos, however, knows how to efficiently and effectively make use of his energy, while  Karl can get lost, disperse valuable energy and become distracted by greener pastures.

Actor Timothée Chalamet

At first look, Chalamet’s chart seems to have Saturn weakened in Pisces– total opposite energy to Saturn qualities. He’s got Jupiter in its home sign of Sagittarius going for him, blessings and courage, wisdom he has inherited from his parents, from his early life, which roots him in golden vines of luck. Chalamet’s Mars, like Bezos, is exalted in Capricorn. A wealth of energy used efficiently and effectively. It is in his 5th house, making him hungry for and willful with his creative self-identity. With a stellium in the dramatic Leo house(including his Sun), he is full of talent, creative energy flows in him. As part of his vitality and purpose, he is called to pursue and strive to great heights as a stage performer.

Neptune is also in Capricorn, a support to Saturn in Pisces. There is mutual reception between the two, helping Chalamet express his creative flow via guided structure and definition. Rather than be hampered by the constrains of Saturn, his creative flow is bounded to film. The parameters of acting allows him to pursue his Piscean imagination and flexibility. Mars in Capricorn helps him act on it, with fervour and dedication.   Neptune in Capricorn gives his ambitions, his Capricornian strength, added versatility as an actor. Magic and logic is at play. A combination that has helped him quickly accelerate in his industry at a young age. Chalamet knows how to use play and imagination to work for him and give it grounds to fly.

Taylor

True to her 1st house image, the first time I met Taylor, she lit up the room with her bright smile and sunny Sagittarian disposition. As I got to know her more profoundly, slowly that light dimmed, gradually shadowed by her Saturnian past and Scorpio dilemmas.

Creativity and imagination pore out of her, with Sun in Sagittarius, Neptune and Jupiter in Capricorn in her first house. She also has a North Node in Taurus in the 5th, while Mars is in the visionary sign of Aquarius in her 2nd house. Her spiritual mission is to bring her unique creative energy down to tangible reality. However, looking at her ruling planet Jupiter, we can see it is awkward in Capricorn. She is not off to a good start. Instead of expanding the natural optimism of Jove, she can tend to lean toward pessimism and distrust. Her natal Jupiter expands the lower qualities of doubt, fears, caution of self(1st house). The combo of energy also has the propensity to become condescending or self-righteous, intolerant of other people’s opinion.

Jupiter makes a sextile to Saturn in Scorpio in the 11th house. This shows her will, force and her inner depth and power. She wants to find success and establish her lofty dreams and aspiration. However, both her Saturn conjunct her Moon and South Node in Scorpio, square her Mars and Venus in the 2nd house of values and self-worth. A push and pull between holding onto the old and progressing into a wider view of beliefs.

As the king of her chart, Jupiter naturally leads the way for other parts of herself and determines her overall experience and viewpoint. Her deep negative impression of the world limits, drys up her 1st houses’ sunny disposition. Strongly influencing her 2nd house qualities of self-worth and values, she runs into more blockages, as it is intercepted. She not only has a hard time expressing her will and desire smoothly, both Mars and Venus are burdened by the heavy baggage carried into the world. She is slowed down by the weight of an unprocessed past (that she is trying to clear atm). Her struggles involve swaying from one extreme to another — between focusing on material riches to striving for inner wealth/spiritual endeavours. Confused about where to focus her energy, this has kept her from finding deep satisfaction and outer success. It has repeatedly placed financial burdens on her. She is constantly on survival mode. Given that she has Venus in her second house, financial luck is hers to gain and take pleasure in, but is frequently out of her grip. Affecting her 2nd house self-worth and value, I have witnessed her in a vicious cycle of inadequacy and low self-worth, which fuels her to focus on material wealth for compensation. A cycle that repeats itself when she finds dissatisfaction as soon as she reaches material abundance, which then causes her to abandon the material for spiritual comfort.

The breaks to her exhausting cycle can be found when we look at her North Node(spiritual mission) in Taurus. It opposes her Saturn in Scorpio. Meaning she has brought her South Node debt into this lifetime. Which she must pay for in order to be released from the cycle of dissatisfaction and confusion of desire. This could also involve lugging traditions, levels of expectations, duties and burdens from past lives into her current one. She may have also been a respected authority figure in previous incarnations. With Saturn conjunct her South Node, in the 11th house, she has a tendency to compare herself to others, and their own success; her worth is determined by the outside, 11th house world. Her spiritual mission is creating a new self, one that is free of obligation to others and free of self-expectations (which is connected to having the status she feels compelled to show to others). By letting go of expectations and the duties connected to her past, while applying the Scorpio cycle of death and rebirth, she can then start to focus on shinning her unique light in all things Taurus. Which can then give her a new sense of confidence and sense of self-worth to create a life on her own terms and with abandon(5th house).

In essence, having a king skewed in view,  colors the rest of her chart. Taylor is challenged by the patterns of her past, her negativity, her propensity for mistrust in herself. Her visions are burdened by the past that her subconscious self holds onto—Saturn + Moon in Scorpio in the 11th house. She is unable to express her full potential smoothly like Chalamet, to create the success and satisfaction she desires and, in which, impel her bouts of inadequacies. Constantly challenged by her natal Saturn and Jupiter, her Sagittarius light is limited to shine its brightest. A load that burdens her Mars in Aquarius to power through, beyond her perceived limits. If she can make peace with her deep Saturn past, this would free up her Mars load and give her Jupiter lens optimal visibility.

Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison

The story of the two genius rivals goes like this: In 1880, the two waged a “War of Currents, over whose  electrical system would power the world — Tesla’s alternating-current (AC) system or Edison’s rival direct-current (DC) electric power.”

On that note, Tesla never gets the recognition he deserves for his brilliant invention, not until after his death. Edison, on the other hand, was already established, well before Tesla would find financing for his inventions. Edison was better equipped financially, supporting a team of assistance to carry out his inventions to final product. Though Tesla was argued to be more advanced, to have progressively unique ideas, the name Edison remains a ubiquitous one. Tesla ended up in temporary obscurity and dying in destitute poverty.

Their natal Saturn’s tell the story why.

Comparable in talent, skills and genius level, both fired in creative, fiery and re-generative energy, Edison was Scorpio Ascendent, while Tesla had Pluto and Uranus in Taurus energy on his ascendent, with Venus as the ruler planet. If this was a race, Tesla, based on such powerful planets in his first house, would look to have the advantage. History shows that obviously was not the case.

When we look at Mar’s health in Edison’s chart, it is full of power in Capricorn, with a passionate desire to ascend to the top and achieve greatness. Mars also endows him with aggression for business. Tesla, however, has a Venus ruler in Cancer. Mars has the advantage over Venus. Edison naturally uses just the right amount of force to sprint the long distance and outrun the charms of Tesla’s Venus in Cancer. Although Cancer is also known for its entrepreneurial nature, Venus relies on intuition. A part of Tesla being  be held back by the planet’s receptive nature. He was known to have poor business sense, which ultimately cause his demise. Furthermore, he was accused by Edison to be impractical with his inventions. This can be related to his Uranus in Taurus, a futurist, ungrounded in practicality, thanks to his weakened Saturn. Both were known for their abundant brilliant ideas and inventions. Edison created over a thousand patents, while Tesla only created 300 worldwide.

Now Edison’s Mars may be full of energy, but when we look at Saturn, like Chalamet, it is in its enemy sign of Pisces. Seemingly to be a disadvantage to his fiery start. Also, like Chalamet, Neptune is in the sign of Capricorn, conjunct Saturn in Pisces. An exchange of energy that allows for structure to his vast imagination. An energy within him to clearly define his imagination, and logistically and diligently turn his inventions into reality. This works well for his weakened Jupiter in Gemini, which can constrict and structure his ideas and busy mind. It grounds his nervous energy, channels it into his life’s work. Gemini is about connectivity, about the locale. His lightbulb invention connected and lit up the city on new levels. This enabled Edison to establish his brilliant ideas into the real world.

Tesla, on the other hand, has Venus in Cancer as his chart ambassador. In his bio pic movie Tesla, he is characterized as contemplative and reserved, compared to the chatty and boastful Edison. Tesla’s detached and stoic Pluto in Taurus and Uranus in Taurus impracticality probably worsen his ability to make sound judgments when it came to business dealings. In combination with his 3rd house cusp in Cancer, the mixed elements reveal a tendency to contemplate excessively about ideas, to a point of attachment. He was known to be obsessive with his ideas. The stellium in Cancer involves his Saturn. Weakened in the sign, also caused his poor decisions in business. Perhaps, avoiding, fussing over, unable to act on hard, cold, bigger picture decisions. Compared to Edison’s stellium in expanding, social and visionary Aquarius in the 3rd house—which has an easier flow in the 3rd, Tesla’s Cancer stellium sat awkward in the house of communication.

Lacking in foresight of action was further shown by his natal Mars in Libra. His Mars is in the 6th house of work squares his Midheaven. There may have been turmoil between logic and desire, a lack of balance between the job at hand and goals required to reach his apex. Which is exacerbated by Jupiter in Aries in the 12th house. Aries in the 12th slows down action and disperses desire. Jupiter brings luck, but one must understand it first, as it can go against the native, if not balanced in practicality and reason. There was navité to his character, loosely depicted in the film Tesla. Ultimately, his potential Jupiter riches was dissolved in the 12th house.

Tesla’s avant-garde ideas may have actually went against him. His brilliant ideas displaced and challenged by the limitations of technology and current demand of his day. Without the practicality and grounding qualities of Saturn, his innovations were not enough to secure him a life of wealth and growth like his contemporary Edison, nor was his luck from the ethers. Edison’s Jupiter in Gemini was used effectively with the help of Saturn in Pisces. It was actually more of a benefit, than its normal tendency to confuse and frustrate the mind. The combination of Saturn in Pisces, slowed his thoughts and ideas down to a focus, yet boundaries were still pushed, and he was likely realistic about his limits.

Conclusion

Astrology consists of many parts, elements, planets and areas of life we co-create and cultivate. The combination of energy are the cards we given. Those who have been dealt the better hand, control the game, while others may be at the whims and mercy of their own blockages. Yet, there are no guarantees to life’s turn out and how we play it, what we pull out from our given hand can end up being more substantial, more fulfilling than the actual luck we are dealt. It is in our birth chart that can indicate just how long we stay in the game, how well we play with a given losing or winning hand. It is about our Mars capabilities, our outlined Jupiterian beliefs, stitched together by our Saturn structure and discipline to reach ultimate potential and success.

If you want to dive deeper into the patterns that connect your Mars, Jupiter and Saturn placements to other parts of your chart, Know Thyself guides you through step-by-step.

References:

Live Science

Smithsonian Magazine