Combust Mars in the Natal Chart

A combust planet is not always fatally damaged. Through an act of will, it is possible to channel its energy so powerfully that even those with the most favorable aspects might envy the result. However, there are cases when a planet is considered inherently malefic, and thus the only battle is with oneself—which is the greatest challenge. Combustion occurs within 8 to 17 degrees of the Sun; the closer the planet is to the luminary, the harder it is for the native’s individuality to fully manifest.

The energies of Mars—hot, impulsive, and combative—are suppressed by the Sun in this scenario. This means that activity, courage, and strength become tied to the native’s ego. The person remains passive until something directly affects them or until personal benefit and interest are at stake. There is, however, a deeper issue: the native does not know how to pursue their goals without destroying everything in the process. Almost always, there is a lack of libido, creating a sharp dissonance between the outward persona and the inner world of the chart holder.

Characteristics of Combust Mars

The red planet becomes completely subordinated to the actions of the Sun. If the Sun is weak and the person is not ambitious, is shy in communication, or is burdened with complexes, it is usually difficult for the native to force themselves to act decisively, stand up to offenders, or insist on their own position.

Such a person may be quite aggressive internally, but suppresses it. This leads to self-destructive tendencies. Out of nowhere, the native may provoke traumatic situations for themselves—cutting a finger here, scalding themselves there.

People like this often quietly work at their assigned positions, quietly envying the more decisive and courageous, but not daring to approach the boss and declare their abilities or ambitions. Only when the Sun absolutely blazes with desire does the suppressed energy of Mars connect, and the native suddenly becomes fearless and bold.

However, such cases are rare. More often, the person with combust Mars actively resists common sense and behaves irrationally.

A vivid example is the character Novoseltsev from the film “Office Romance.” His ambitions are crushed by his lack of self-confidence. At times, he is timid before his strict boss and cannot utter two words; at other times, he loses control, and Martian anger, combined with a sudden surge of Solar ambition, makes him behave obsessively and aggressively. There is no golden mean with combust Mars.

Furthermore, libido suffers in such a configuration—especially for men. The native may have little genuine interest in the opposite sex, or, on the contrary, may go out of their way to create a Casanova image, moving from one woman to another, engaging in relationships mainly to maintain a macho reputation, yet deriving little true pleasure from physical intimacy.

For women, the situation is more straightforward: simply low libido, fatigue, and apathy.

Three Types of Mars Combustion

The planet’s influence is further shaped by Mars’s position relative to the Sun. For this reason, natives with combust Mars react to life’s circumstances in radically different ways: with challenge or with shock.

There are three types of Mars combustion:

1. Mars is ahead of the Sun, no more than eight degrees away, with Mars at a higher degree than the luminary. This person is fully aware of their slowness and dependence on the approval of others. They always wait for a magical push, knowing they cannot organize themselves and continually postpone taking action. At heart, the native does not believe in themselves or their capacity to succeed, and constantly justifies this with numerous reasons for why they cannot act right now.

2. Mars is behind the Sun, at a lower degree and no more than eight degrees away from the luminary. In this case, the person does not understand why they are so different from others. Their own timidity, laziness, and cowardice irritate them to the point of tears, but they are unable to overcome these tendencies. Deep down lies a profound lack of self-confidence and a belief that they are undeserving of success. Such people think nothing will work out anyway, so why even start?

3. Mars is at the heart of the Sun—this is the Kazimi position, when the planet is no longer a slave but a favorite of the luminary. The native behaves confidently, acts logically, and knows how to find the shortest path to their goals. There is no sign of laziness here: these are brave, intelligent, and industrious people with outstanding destinies.

Since the difference in how Mars affects fate is so pronounced, it is always important to determine exactly where and at what degree it is positioned.

Karmic Reasons for Mars Combustion

Any planet disappearing from visibility in close proximity to the Sun does not appear in the horoscope by accident. This also reflects karmic debts of the lineage or echoes of events from a past life.

A native with combust Mars was, in the past, decisive but cruel and ruthless. A man might have participated in battles as a soldier, overseen harvests and mercilessly taken the lion’s share for himself or his master, humiliated his wife and relatives. His cruelty had no logical justification—he simply did not care what he destroyed.

Now, he is deprived of the ability to be aggressive and is cast in the role of someone he once wronged in a previous life.

A woman with combust Mars may have waged war against men, humiliating their feelings or being a source of quarrels and fights. Now she is meant to smooth out the conflicts of others.  ✓