Suicide Prevention Through Astrological Awareness: Mars-Saturn Contacts

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.  

Japan is one of the only countries in the world to provide timely suicide data. In October of 2020, the country recorded more suicide-related deaths than the virus-related deaths it had recorded in all of 2020 up to that point. After decreasing over the past few years, suicides in the month of October rose to the highest point since 2015. There were 2,153 suicides recorded in Japan in October 2020. There had been 2,087 virus-related deaths for the year of 2020 up to that point. Mars was retrograde in Aries, tightly square Saturn in Capricorn, in October 2020.

Due to the extended transit of Mars through Aries from June 28, 2020 to January 6, 2021, including a retrograde period from September 9 to November 13, 2020, the Mars-Saturn square was influential over a longer period of time than usual. 

Mars in Aries formed the first exact square to Saturn in Capricorn on August 24, 2020 at 26 degrees of the signs. Mars then went retrograde into a second exact square to Saturn on September 29, 2020 at 25 degrees of the signs. The final square between Mars and Saturn occurred as both bodies moved into new signs - Mars into Taurus and Saturn into Aquarius - on January 12, 2021 at 2 degrees of the signs. This made the Mars-Saturn square strongly influential from August 2020 through January 2021.

During the extended Mars in Aries transit, Mars was also forming prolonged square aspects to Jupiter and Pluto in Capricorn. This indicated that the difficulties related to the Mars-Saturn square were made bigger and broader under the influence of Jupiter. There was also a "prolonged experience of Hell" with the addition of Pluto into the mix. This Plutonic "prolonged experience of Hell" would have exacerbated feelings of fear, terror, dread, and frustration, as well as a feeling of being stuck between a rock and a hard place with no immediate way to solve problems or to move forward.

Mars in Aries formed exact squares to Pluto in Capricorn on August 13 (23 degrees), October 9 (22 degrees), and December 23, 2020 (23 degrees).

Because of the increased risk of suicide under Mars-Saturn contacts, it is helpful to track the aspects. The days and weeks surrounding the exact aspects, when the aspect is still within orb, are particular danger zones. The applying aspects - the days before the aspect becomes exact - often involve periods of building pressure that can seem to have no outlet or escape. Pressure often releases after the aspect is exact and the bodies move out of orb.

Mars-Saturn Contacts

March 31, 2020 - Mars conjunct Saturn in Aquarius (0 degrees)

August through October 2020 - Mars in Aries in opening square to Saturn in Capricorn

January 12, 2021 - Mars in Taurus in opening square to Saturn in Aquarius (2 degrees of the signs)

July 1, 2021 - Mars in Leo opposite Saturn in Aquarius (12 degrees of the signs). Mars in Leo will create a fixed t-square with Saturn in Aquarius square Uranus in Taurus at this time.

November 10, 2021 - Mars in Scorpio in closing square to Saturn in Aquarius (7 degrees of the signs). Mars will be exactly conjunct Mercury in Scorpio at this time, and the Moon will be exactly conjunct Saturn in Aquarius. A loose fixed t-square will be formed with Uranus in Taurus.

April 4, 2022 - Mars conjunct Saturn in Aquarius (22 degrees)

August 7, 2022 - Mars in Taurus in opening square to Saturn in Aquarius (22 degrees of the signs); Mars will also be conjunct Uranus in Taurus during this square (exact August 1)

July 20, 2023 - Mars in Virgo opposite Saturn Rx in Pisces (6 degrees of the signs)

November 25, 2023 - Mars in Sagittarius in closing square to Saturn in Pisces (0 degrees of the signs)

April 10, 2024 - Mars conjunct Saturn in Pisces (14 degrees)

August 31, 2024 - Mars in Gemini in opening square to Saturn in Pisces (27 degrees of the signs)

August 8, 2025 - Mars in Libra opposite Saturn in Aries (1 degree of the signs)

December 8, 2025 - Mars in Sagittarius in closing square to Saturn in Pisces (25 degrees of the signs)

April 19, 2026 - Mars conjunct Saturn in Aries (7 degrees). This conjunction happens during a six-planet stellium in Aries involving the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, and Neptune, along with Chiron. Mars and Saturn will also be conjunct Neptune at the time.

The next Mars-Saturn square will occur in November 2021 during Scorpio season, and the astrology indicates a period of increased danger as far as dark moods, emotional and psychological difficulties, mental disturbances, and suicidal tendencies.

Mars will be exactly conjunct Mercury in Scorpio, and the Moon will be conjunct Saturn in Aquarius at the time of the Mars-Saturn square. This indicates the possibility of heavy and disturbing thoughts that are difficult to shift out of (Mercury-Mars in Scorpio), as well as a sense of intense emotional alienation and fear about the future (Moon-Saturn in Aquarius). This could be a rough and emotionally-shredding sort of time for people. Increased support and protection, including self-support and self-protection, will be required.  

This Mars-Saturn square could coincide with a new round of "lockdowns" as we head into the next cold and flu season. (Or whatever nasty shenanigans the powers that be may have up their sleeves...)

 

Mars square Saturn - November 10, 2021

Mercury-Mars in Scorpio square Moon-Saturn in Aquarius

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The Mars-Saturn square in November 2021 is followed shortly after by the South Node of the Moon entering Scorpio (and the North Node of the Moon entering Taurus) on January 18, 2022 for a transit that lasts until July 17, 2023. A transiting South Node of the Moon in Scorpio indicates a period of time when people could be pulled into some very dark and thorny places. A concerted and ongoing effort will be required to keep us out of quagmires while maintaining emotional and psychological stability.

The Mars-Saturn contacts when Saturn is transiting Pisces (2023 to 2025) could also be particularly difficult to navigate. Mental, spiritual, and psychic health are challenged under this transit.

It's helpful to track these contacts in the transits to our own natal and Secondary Progressed charts, as well.

The following are all sad examples of suicides committed under Mars-Saturn contacts. I hope these departed souls are not insulted by my use of their birth charts or stories for this article. The hope is that by making people more aware of increased suicide risk around Mars-Saturn contacts, particularly Mars-Saturn squares, we can stop people from choosing a permanent solution for the pressures and difficulties under temporary transits. Difficult transits are temporary, even if the influence of Mars-Saturn tries to convince us we are stuck with our terrible problems and conditions for good with no way out. The darkness that descends can be put into context with astrological analysis. 

Mars-Saturn Contacts and Suicides in Male Athletes

Rick Rypien

In 2011, under a Mars-Saturn square, I wrote about a National Hockey League "enforcer" (fighter) who ended his life after suffering from concussion-related depression.

NHL player Rick Rypien ended his life on August 15, 2011 under an applying Mars in Cancer square to Saturn in Libra (exact August 25, 2011 at 14 degrees). Uranus in Aries was square Pluto in Capricorn at the time, and with Mars in Cancer square Saturn in Libra, a Cardinal Grand Cross configuration was formed in the transits - notoriously challenging. Rypien was 27 years old at the time of his death, soon to be entering his Saturn Return, and this can be a very vulnerable time in a person's life.

Rypien had just been traded from the Vancouver Canucks to the Calgary Flames, a city where he had played as a junior. Instead of showing up for work, he was found dead at his home in Alberta. Rick had endured years of depression, speaking publicly about it and taking time off twice from his hockey career to have it treated. The death of his girlfriend in a car accident when he was a junior player was more than likely a contributing factor to his ongoing depression, and the stress of a move and a new hockey club under a Cardinal Grand Cross – facing down the Mars-Saturn square - were more than likely contributing factors in his decision to end his life.

Rypien was what is called an enforcer – his basic role was to fight opponent players on the ice. It can't be emotionally easy to do that night after night. The resulting concussions and blows to the head would have contributed to his state of mental and emotional health. Rypien’s death followed the accidental death in May 2011 of another NHL enforcer, 28-year-old New York Rangers player Derek Boogaard – also on the cusp of his Saturn Return. Boogaard died of an accidental overdose of the painkiller oxycodone and alcohol.

With this astrological symbology, we see some of the extreme challenges (Saturn) stemming from professional sports (Mars), including chronic, concussion-related depression (Saturn). Professional athletes are often glorified in our society, but it's important to look at this much darker side of pro sports to get a fuller understanding of the situation.

 

 

The day of Rick Rypien's death - August 15, 2011

Mars in Cancer in applying square to Saturn in Libra

Click to enlarge 

 

Ty Pozzobon

On January 9, 2017, under an applying Mars-Chiron in Pisces square to Saturn in Sagittarius (exact January 19, 2017 at 23 degrees), Ty Pozzobon from Merritt, British Columbia, Canada, ended his life. At the time, Pozzobon was considered the best bull rider in Canadian professional rodeo. 

Mars and Chiron in Pisces were part of a large Pisces influence at the time involving Neptune, Venus, Pallas Athene, and the South Node in Pisces. Pisces is a sign associated with suffering and the desire to alleviate or escape that suffering, a pull toward the abyss. It is also a sign related to mental health challenges. The strong influence of wounded healer Chiron in Pisces also indicates the possibility of health challenges that cause intense pain and suffering.

Pozzobon was 25 years old at the time and suffered from concussion-related depression and personality changes stemming from his bull riding career. Pozzobon had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative neurological disease caused by multiple blows to the head. This condition is often seen in professional athletes in contact sports like football, hockey, or boxing.  

The Sun (self) had just formed a conjunction to Pluto (death) in Capricorn (depression, career) at the time of his death. 

The day of Ty Pozzobon's death - January 9, 2017

Mars-Chiron in Pisces in applying square to Saturn in Sagittarius

Click to enlarge

 

Mars-Saturn Contacts and Increased Risk of Suicide - Three Stories Involving the Golden Gate Bridge

I recently saw two documentaries about suicide, and they were sad, haunting, and beautiful all at the same time. The documentaries are basically about "destination suicides" - locations people travel to in order to commit suicide.

Please note: these documentaries will be too disturbing for some to watch.

One documentary is called At the Brink: A Personal Look at Suicides Over Niagara Falls. The documentary looks at people being drawn to commit suicide by going over the waterfall at Niagara Falls. Between 25 and 30 people kill themselves by going over the falls every year. 

The second documentary is called The Bridge. This documentary looks at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California as a location that draws people from all over the world who are looking to end their lives. The exact number of suicides per year is not known, but the Golden Gate Bridge is the second most used site for suicide behind the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge in China. In addition to the successful attempts, many more people are stopped each year before they can jump from the bridge.

Both Niagara Falls and the Golden Gate Bridge are beautiful, natural locations involving bodies of water. Both have a dreamy, Neptunian quality to them, indicating a desire to immerse oneself in sublime natural beauty in an attempt to end the pain of the material life. 

During the transit of Saturn in Pisces (March 2023 to February 2026), people could be particularly drawn to these types of locations. We will need to be on the lookout for struggling people around the times of the exact Mars-Saturn aspects. Extra back-up in locations that are regularly used for suicide would be advisable. Mars is a planet related to proactivity, and with the astrology, we can be proactive in assisting those who are walking the edge between life and death.

Throughout the year of 2004, a crew filmed the Golden Gate Bridge from dawn to dusk each day. The documentary was attempting to raise awareness of the problem of suicides at that location. The film crew recorded 23 of the 24 known suicides that year. 

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the only bridges like it without any suicide deterrents. There are now plans for a suicide prevention net to be added to the bridge, though the date for completion seems to have been pushed off. 

Kevin Hines survived a suicide attempt at the bridge and was instrumental in bringing about plans for the net. Since many survivors, Kevin included, said they regretted jumping the second after they did it, the net will at least catch people after they jump, and they would then have to make a further decision to jump out of the net to the water below.

Even if it has been considered or planned previously, the act of committing suicide is often spontaneous and in-the-moment. Researchers have found that thwarted bridge jumpers rarely go on to kill themselves elsewhere:

"In the late 1970s, University of California psychologist Richard Seiden tracked 515 thwarted jumpers at the Golden Gate, dating from the bridge's completion in 1937 until 1971. Only 6 per cent went on to kill themselves on another occasion, he found." 

What follows are the birth charts and transits for three of the subjects in the documentary. In all three examples, we see Mars-Saturn contacts at the time of the suicides.

I don't have birth times for these people, and again, I hope they would give permission for their charts to be used to raise awareness around suicide and the conditions that push people to suicide.

Saturn was in a particularly difficult position in 2004 - in the sign of its detriment, Cancer. Saturn in Cancer indicates the possibility of prolonged emotional difficulty and stress, the type that feels as if it will go on forever. There can be a feeling of being emotionally cut off and unsupported, especially from family, or being blocked from having our emotional needs met. Saturn in Cancer can indicate a feeling of being overwhelmed or even suffocated by difficult emotion. It can indicate grinding emotional challenges that must be worked with step-by-step over time. There can be challenges related to building a family and a home of one's own. 

Transiting Mars and Saturn formed an exact conjunction on May 24, 2004 at 11 degrees Cancer. The influence of Mars indicates an inflammation or exacerbation of the emotional and family-related challenges of Saturn in Cancer. Detrimental family dynamics, traumatic memories, emotional disturbances, and issues around securing a family and home can become acute challenges with Mars-Saturn in Cancer. There can be a sense of being emotionally cut off or starved, even subjected to emotional cruelty. Moving forward can seem extremely difficult. This is an aspect that can make it feel as if we are trapped in the past, unable to move beyond the same old emotional quagmires. 

The South Node of the Moon was in Scorpio in 2004 (as it will be again in 2022/23), indicating the potential for a detrimental and karmic pull into the darker side of things. A pull toward death and the annihilation of the self in an attempt to move out of desperately challenging material circumstances. Challenges related to income/money/finances and their connection to self-worth (Taurus) are particularly highlighted.

Gene Sprague

 

Gene Sprague's birth chart with the transits on the day of his death (no birth time) - May 11, 2004

Mars in an applying conjunction to Saturn in Cancer forming a Cardinal Grand Cross with his natal Mercury in Capricorn, Chiron in Aries, and Uranus in Libra

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We see a period of very intense challenge for Gene with transiting Mars-Saturn in Cancer forming a Cardinal Grand Cross (two oppositions or four squares) with his natal Mercury in Capricorn, Chiron in Aries, and Uranus in Libra at the time of his death. This configuration can produce extreme difficulty and anxiety, as well as a feeling of being challenged or pressured from all sides. Some type of initiation or action is required, but it can seem impossible to take the actions that are needed in the situation. 

Gene was raised by a single mother and had been very close to her. At the time of his death, she had fairly recently died from cancer. A love relationship had also ended, necessitating Gene's move back to California. Friends had been pressuring him to get a job. In a state of extreme emotional turmoil and grief, the material requirements of life (Saturn) may have seemed impossible to fulfill. 

At the time of Gene's death, transiting Pluto was conjunct his Sagittarius Sun. This indicates a desire for annihilation (Pluto) of the self (Sun) to escape intensely difficult conditions, the emotional and psychological Hell being experienced acutely at the time. Venus in Gemini was stationing retrograde in an opposition to transiting Pluto and his natal Sun in Sagittarius. This indicates that the end (Pluto) of his love relationship (Venus) was on his mind (Gemini) in an intense and potentially-consuming way.

The transiting Moon was forming a conjunction to Gene's natal Mars in Aquarius on the day of his death, indicating a sense of alienation and emotional coldness from others. A feeling that he did not belong.  

The North Node of the Moon was in an applying conjunction to Gene's natal Saturn in Taurus. This provided an extra dose of Saturnine challenge, indicating increasing financial pressure and a requirement to work on boundaries and self-worth.  

Philip Manikow

Philip Manikow's birth chart with the transits on the day of his death (no birth time) - January 16, 2004

Transiting Saturn in Cancer in applying square to his natal Mars in Libra

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Philip had a natal Mars-Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Libra square natal Venus Rx in Capricorn. The challenging Mars-Saturn contact in his natal astrology indicated ongoing and prolonged struggle, particularly with relationships and personal balance (including balanced mental and emotional health). An even more complex element of difficulty, to the point of being deadly difficulty, is seen with the addition of Pluto to the Mars-Saturn conjunction. The Mars-Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Libra also squared Philip's nodal axis (North Node in Cancer/South Node in Capricorn). Philip had natal Venus Rx (stationing direct) in Capricorn in mutual reception to Saturn in Libra, indicating a strong theme of relationship-related challenges in his life. These are challenges that did not have quick, easy, or simple answers.

The transiting Sun and Chiron were in Capricorn at the time, conjunct his Venus-South Node in Capricorn and square his Mars-Saturn-Pluto in Libra, indicating a painful focus on these challenges. 

At the time of Philip's death, transiting Mars in Aries had just formed a square to transiting Saturn Rx in Cancer (exact January 1, 2004). Mars in Aries then moved into an opposition to Philip's natal Mars-Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Libra. Transiting Saturn Rx in Cancer had just moved out of orb of a square to his natal Mars in Libra.  

The transiting North Node of the Moon in Taurus was exactly conjunct Philip's natal Chiron (wound, pain, health) in Taurus (stability) on the day of his death. The transiting Moon was in Scorpio conjunct the South Node of the Moon. This indicates a strong draw toward death and annihilation of the self as an attempt to end emotional/psychological suffering. Philip's mother said he had been drawn to the Golden Gate Bridge like a magnet, and we can see the magnetic pull into detrimental and karmic territory in the transiting Moon conjunct Scorpio South Node on the day he died.  

Lisa Smith

 

Lisa Smith's birth chart with the transits on the day of her death (no birth time) - April 11, 2004

 Transiting Saturn in Cancer in applying square to her natal Mars in Libra 

Click to enlarge

On the day of her death, Saturn in Cancer was in an applying square to Lisa's natal Mars in Libra. Saturn in Cancer was also in square aspect to her natal Sun, North Node, Vesta, and Mercury in Libra. 

Saturn in Cancer had formed exact square aspects to the Libra bodies in Lisa's chart from June to October 2003. Saturn in Cancer stationed retrograde in a tight square to her natal Mars in Libra on October 25, 2003, indicating a period of acute stress. 

At the time of her death, Saturn in Cancer, now direct, was re-activating the squares to her natal Sun, North Node, Vesta, Mercury, and Mars in Libra. The pressure felt under these aspects, stirring the difficulty she had experienced during the second half of 2003, would have contributed to her decision to end her life.

The astrology indicates that Lisa had been in a prolonged period of stress and struggle since mid-2003, and this especially related to having her emotional needs met through family, housemates, and other relationships. Lisa was schizophrenic and had been living in an assisted living home for 15 years at the time of her death.

Lisa's natal Venus was in the sign of its fall, Virgo, in a tight conjunction to Pluto in Virgo. This indicates very precise needs in relationship with a tendency for seemingly small incidents or failings to have a profound emotional and psychological effect on her. There is a sense of intense isolation with this aspect. Venus-Pluto in Virgo also indicates the difficulty her health caused in her relationships. 

At the time of her death, transiting Mars and Venus in Gemini had just formed square aspects to Lisa's natal Venus-Pluto in Virgo. They were also in square aspect to transiting Jupiter Rx in Virgo, which could make her problems seem much bigger. This astrology indicates communication problems and a sense of being misunderstood by others, leading to suicidal thoughts and then actions. It may have been difficult for Lisa to precisely communicate her feelings and needs to others or to find relationships that had the degree of sensitivity and understanding needed.

Mars-Saturn contacts are not the only indicators of suicide, of course, but as I've shown, these contacts are associated with moments of such acute distress and despair that they can spur the extreme and irreversible act of taking one's own life. We see an element of impulsive action (Mars) that seems to be forced or compelled by circumstances (Saturn). We see tough and long-standing problems, particularly involving depression (Saturn), being pushed to a head, to an acute crisis point (Mars).

All five of the people discussed in this article were young. Mars-Saturn contacts have increased danger for young people who do not have the life experience to put their challenges, seemingly so impossible in that moment, into their broader context. 

We generally grow into our Saturn challenges over time. Things that seem impossible to navigate at a certain point in our lives eventually become less hard. Over enough time and with enough effort, what was once an extreme challenge can become a point of personal prowess. Weaknesses can become strengths. If we give ourselves time, if we show patience, and if we receive the support we need at critical moments (this is key), we can successfully shoulder the challenges of our lives by taking them one step at a time. The influence of stressed Mars, however, adds elements of anger, exasperation, rebellion, extreme frustration, and impulsivity. Unfortunately, some impulsive actions cannot be taken back. 

Understanding this astrology can help us to be more compassionate toward ourselves and each other, especially when in a state of crisis.

I hope all the souls who have chosen to leave this Earth are now at peace. I hope they now know how loved they are and that their challenges were not insurmountable, despite how they felt at the time.

Let's do better on this planet. Let's soften cruelty with kindness. Let's neutralize criticism and condemnation with compassion and empathy. Let's increase our understanding of people in very tough life circumstances. Let's encourage each other and be there for each other. Let's use astrological insight to make this world a better and kinder place.

Take care out there.