This is a Plutonic awareness article discussing suicidal tendencies associated with contacts between Mars and Saturn and particularly square aspects between those two bodies. This article will not be everyone's cup of tea, but as a Plutonic astrologer, I do think the exploration of this topic is valuable if done with love and respect.I've been writing about Mars-Saturn contacts and the increased risk of suicide, particularly for men, since 2011. You can see all Mars-Saturn contacts articles here.
Mars-Saturn Contacts: Notoriously Challenging
Mars-Saturn contacts, and particularly the square aspect, indicate the potential for acute challenge and difficulty. If placements in the natal chart are being aspected, a person can feel as if he or she is being held or trapped within tremendously tough circumstances without a viable route through them. Pressure, frustration, and despair can build to extreme levels under these contacts, and this has been shown in the past to increase the risk of suicide. A permanent decision (Saturn) is made, perhaps impulsively (Mars), that cannot be taken back. This most permanent of decisions is made in an attempt to deal with difficulties that, no matter how complex or challenging, are most likely temporary in their acute severity.
Under Mars-Saturn contacts, and particularly a Mars-Saturn square, we can feel as if our forward-ho motion
is being stalled, blocked, or restricted in despair-inducing ways. We can feel as
if our will is being thwarted and our movement painfully restricted. There can
be a feeling that any action taken is pointless or that it will not
bring about the desired result. There can be intense fear related to taking any action at
all, creating a feeling of being stuck in the circumstances or
problems with no outlet or solution. Our responsibilities, obligations, and challenges can seem tremendously heavy and exhausting under these contacts to the point that we doubt our ability to deal with them successfully.
Saturn can convince us (erroneously) that our problems will
be this tough forever, that we've made no progress, and that there is no way out, no solution.
Mars-Saturn contacts, and particularly squares, have a
tendency to stir "between a rock and a hard place" frustrations. It can seem as if any move we make will be inadequate. Extremely uncomfortable conditions can arise and be prolonged under these contacts.
Mars
and Saturn are the two malefic planets of the zodiac. They can be
really nasty buggers. When Mars and Saturn form a 90-degree square aspect, the
two bodies are interacting in a
particularly frictional, tense, and frustrating way. It may seem, under this aspect, that we've
been stuck with the same set of problems for our entire lives, never
able to gain satisfactory traction toward a long-term solution.
We may be rubbing up against certain aspects of our circumstances in
frictional ways, stirring feelings of anger, impatience, frustration,
dread, fear, self-doubt, or defeat.
Mars-Saturn
contacts are an indicator that
we’re being challenged to do things we don't really want to do,
things we don’t feel we have the strength or energy to do at that
moment. The feeling of being forced to make a move then kicks up
anxiety, fear, and dread.
Mars-Saturn
contacts, particularly the square aspect, can indicate extreme or even
intolerable frustration. These contacts can indicate restrictions being
put on our ability to take action or our ability to achieve outward
success within given conditions. The difficulties associated with Saturn
- fear, dread, self-doubt, depression, low energy, lack of motivation,
financial or career challenge - are inflamed, activated, and stirred up
(Mars). There can be a feeling of not being up to the task at hand, of
not being equipped to fulfill our obligations and responsibilities or the
requirements of our public facades.
In my observation, the Mars-Saturn square can be particularly
harsh for men. It may be more difficult for men to talk about their challenges, especially with depression or mental/emotional health. Failure, especially career failure, may be an all-pervading fear and could lead to feeling like a failure as a person.
Under transiting contacts, the most acute challenges are most often temporary, and things generally seem
more difficult than they really are. Giving things more time is often a good strategy.
Saturn relates to fear and self-doubt, and the influence of Mars inflames or exacerbates these difficulties to a point where they might not seem manageable anymore.
There is an intersection between anger (Mars) and depression (Saturn).
Of course, there are many beneficial elements to the Mars-Saturn contact, as well. It indicates the drive and the will (Mars) to tackle tough challenges step-by-step (Saturn), challenges under which others might buckle. Working through difficult emotions and learning new strategies for dealing with those emotions allow us to make solid progress that puts us in stronger long-term position. These are contacts that can help us to face our fears and take action in our lives. These contacts create the energy and impetus to overcome even long-standing problems and obstacles. If the (sometimes extreme) difficulties of these contacts are worked with patiently over time, we can make very substantial and satisfying progress. We can come into a new level of authority, self-control, and self-mastery by meeting their challenges. Elements of our lives that seemed outside our control can slowly come under our personal dominion.
Global "Lockdowns" Under a Prolonged Mars-Saturn Square (2020/2021) Lead to Mental Health Crisis
We experienced a prolonged square between Mars and Saturn in 2020 and early 2021. This coincided with "lockdown" restrictions around the world that put many people in very precarious financial and emotional/psychological territory. Suicides have been reported regularly throughout this period, but official statistics in most countries will not be available possibly for years. We will have to wait for the statistical data to see whether lockdown measures coincided with increased suicides, along with related deaths like overdoses. Anecdotal evidence indicates that this is the case.
