Taking Initiative: The Key to Getting Out of a Rut
You don’t understand how powerful you really are. The energy of the planet Mars represents passion, intention and action. It is the place to find your personal power which is relevant to everyone, and desirable to all. Packed with exploration and enthusiasm, Mars touches on everything from making proper decisions to failing forward by getting past your fears. Ultimately, it’s the source on tapping into tangible and direct creative action-and ways to nurture and usher those sometimes firey and primal energies into daily life. Below, is a discussion about Mars in astrology and how to use its energy to get ourselves out of a rut.
Definition of initiative
Initiative is the power or opportunity to act or take charge before others do. (1) It encompasses resourcefulness, imagination, spirit and vision. Mars is the initiating planet. It is representative of fire-spark/ablaze/burning. What is your motivation and ambition to get what you want?
Mars is associated with courage, independence, initiative, and confidence. How can one develop these traits to get themselves back in momentum?
Learning to use our Mars energy to our advantage to accomplish our goals can be a strategy to help us begin to make decisions towards choosing where we want and don’t want to go in life. Exploring your natal chart will help you discover the best way to go about how to get the ball rolling towards the things you desire. Knowing the essential qualities of your Mars energy is very helpful in how to take the approach towards taking action so that your efforts aren’t scattered or wasted.
What are the ingredients that foster initiative?
If your Mars is in a fire sign(Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), cultivating inspiration, high energy and faith in yourself; are ways to accomplish your goals.
Mars in an air sign(Aquarius, Gemini, Libra) can nurture initiative by focusing their energies on ideas and discussions.
Mars in the water signs(Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio) can foster initiative by embracing your emotions and acting instinctively. Get excited and focused on your ‘why’ and let those feelings guide you towards action.
Lastly, if you are a Mars in an Earth sign(Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn), you can be more aligned in accomplishing your goals through being more present in getting practical things done.
How can we promote personal power within ourselves? What is it that really sparks willed action?
Approaching actions through the energy of your Mars sign determines your ability to assert yourself. Know the outcome you desire and deal with obstacles through your sign energy. Actually, willed action has a lot to do with controlling yourself-being aware of unconscious impulses and desires to have power over others and your environment, through aggressive or passive means. It equally has a lot to do with not taking certain actions that don’t serve you and your desires.
Mars energy is the inspiration that teaches us to control our energy and responses and to act in ways that facilitate the creation of our own protection and safety. (2) So on the topic of getting out of your rut, you’ve gotta take action towards your desired outcome through the process of creating your desired emotion. For a fire sign, that could mean getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new and exciting but also makes you a little nervous. An air sign can share an idea with someone and observe people’s responses and feedback, generating bigger ideas. For a water sign, acts of self-care and sensitivity towards themselves and their environment creates higher vibrational feelings, sparking action. And for an earth sign, this can mean getting themselves physically and mentally orderly, clearing distractions that will deter them from taking action on their goals.
What are some tips for using Mars energy to attain our goals?
Have a higher aspiration/a big audacious goal/a strong purpose, etc. and take physical action to achieve that. It is an integration of knowing what you want and using energy to go after it seeking results.
Acting without a purpose leads to unwanted outcomes and negative karma. Have a focused goal to create a new expression of what you desire.
Be aware of egotistical desires. Although Mars represents the self, personal achievement without regard for others or the environment contributes to the chaos, cruelty, exploitation and manipulation in the world. The use of our Mars energy is best used to bring advancement, progress and upliftment to our selves and humanity. (2)
The chronic issue of misuse of power.
The misuse of power begins when we don’t know who we are and what we want. We are all powerful. Some of us are conscious of it and some are not. And when we don’t understand the fundamentals of our own power, we continually create problems. These problems are taken advantage of by all sorts of institutions (legal, government, media, etc.)
Once we identify with ourselves and not how others define us, we can start to use our own powers efficiently, effectively and constructively. (2) The transformation of crawling out of a rut begins with no longer making excuses. We can get so comfortable in old ways of how we do something that we can get defensive about shaking up our routines and stubbornly refuse to change because we’ve been acting in a certain way for so long even though our behavior is no longer serving us and we’re just plain old bored. Acknowledging that you need to do something different is the first step, but thinking too much keeps you stuck as well. Redirecting the energy it takes to be in a rut involves turning your actions into offensive moves. Make a conscious choice to take some initiative towards an action that you believe is best for you and will add interest, motivation and inspiration to your days.
Mars in the signs and how to assert yourself to achieve your desires (2)
Take charge of your energy by utilizing the characteristics of your Mars sign.
Mars in Aries– Learn to be true to yourself. Appropriately make choices so you don’t create more problems than necessary. Become a leader by example. Learn how to direct your power without creating rivalries, antagonism, and hostility. Shift from being “against”, to fighting “for” a good cause. Learn to act compassionately towards others and from your heart. Learn how to cooperate with others, and productively use their input. Create allies instead of enemies.
Mars in Leo– Learn to act from the heart instead of the will. Give up need to control and inspire others through your enthusiasm for life. Cultivate teamwork.
Mars in Sagittarius– Learn to live within one’s means. Take responsibility for one’s own actions and the consequences. Don’t try to convince others — inspire them with own example. Let the truth in your heart direct and interpret your life experiences.
Mars in Gemini– Choose only two focal points so you can channel your energies constructively. Commit to something long enough to attain mastery “or to be illuminated or transformed by your experience … and build confidence in your ability to succeed”. Seek meaning in your experiences and identify a purpose in your actions.
Mars in Libra– Learn to have your own opinion and not be swayed by your need to support others, or to achieve harmony. Cultivate a sense of balance and peace within that is unshakable by external circumstances. Stand for your own truth without giving into others expectations or demands. Develop a relationship with your neutral mind and cultivate the ability to return and stay in this place of power. Give up trying to please everyone all the time, and stop worrying about what others think about you, or anything else.
Mars in Aquarius– Open your heart, so that you can relax and enjoy yourself and others, while you pursue your idealistic visions. Develop compassion, empathy and flexibility. Embrace diversity with an open heart
Mars in Cancer– Remember to take care of yourself first so you are able to help others. Become emotionally independent through self-nurturing and self-parenting. Be able to count on yourself so you feel safe to interact in the world. Learn to be comfortable while being uncomfortable with your feelings, and cultivate your emotions as your power base.
Mars in Scorpio– Cultivate high integrity so your intense energy works for your highest good and that of others. Develop a neutral mind and balance your emotions, to avoid slipping into negativity and into extremes. Be conscious of your power and its effect on others and your environment. Develop a conscious relationship with your emotions, and use them to vitalize, not sabotage yourself. Learn to channel divine love, and you will heal and create with your presence. Keep things simple, light, fun and above board.
Mars in Pisces– Learn to be discerning and pick causes that uplift, not deplete your energy. Create boundaries and practical criteria for your choices. Take care of yourself, so that you cannot be drained of energy or abused. Learn the difference between supportive empathy and misplaced sympathy. Learn to serve your spirit, and don’t try to save anyone but yourself.
Mars in Taurus– Make sure your first loyalty is to yourself and not situations that do not serve you. Learn to act to get what you want, instead of reacting out of insecurities. Build trust in yourself, to take care of yourself and meet your basic needs. Let go of the past and transform the status quo.
Mars in Virgo– Learn to evaluate, but not constantly question one’s path and purpose. Cultivate patience and acceptance, and stop demanding perfection in yourself and others. Learn to discern between busywork and activities that accomplish results. Experience satisfaction in the moment, and find perfection in divine order. Let order reveal itself by surrendering to the timely unfoldment of life.
Mars in Capricorn– Self-mastery through practical life experiences is your ultimate goal. Discipline yourself to not get involved in activities that build your ego through recognition or status. Choose activities that create lasting value in your life. Give up strict control, and let life unfold. Develop sensitivity to your own feelings, and to the feelings and needs of others. Make people around you feel safe and valued (start with yourself)
Camille Thomas is the founder/writer at DiligentCopy, a freelance copywriting and research company specializing in natural health and wellness content. She helps brands dedicated to natural health and wellness reach their goals with original, creative content (Website copy, blogs, whitepapers, research papers, etc.) about alternative medicine and healing, spirituality, veganism, ethical fashion, and more.
