Mars-Neptune conjunctions occur at intervals of about two years on average. The aspect is occasionally repeated three times over the course of five to six months or so, due to a Mars retrograde during the alignment. This is a fairly rare occurrence: it happens only once or twice a century as a rule. It is one of the very most momentous types of Mars-Neptune conjunction, since it occurs when Mars is retrograde and therefore at or near perigee (closest approach to Earth): Mars becomes much more prominent during such close passes.

The last "three-peat" Mars-Neptune conjunction occurred in 1932-33, during Hitler's rise to power in Germany. Past triple alignments of this sort occurred in 1076-1077 (the Investiture Controversy, in which Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV attempted to depose the Pope) and 1794 (the Reign of Terror period of the French Revolution). The next one won't come until 2071-72.

As the slower-moving of the pair, Neptune determines the sign placement of this aspect. Since Neptune spends an average of about 14 years in a sign, the Mars-Neptune conjunction will occur in a single sign for nearly that span of time - sometimes a couple years less, if Neptune enters a sign shortly after a Mars-Neptune conjunction. For example, the 1999 conjunction marks the first in the Aquarius series of these alignments that lasts until 2011. The previous Aquarius series of conjunctions took place between 1834 and 1845 (a period which included the Mexican-American War), and the next is from 2161 to 2174.

What you see is NOT what you get when Mars aligns with Neptune. You may get incredible artistry. Or you might get fanatical cruelty. From one extreme to the other, the only constant to this alignment is its quality of masquerade, subterfuge and subtlety . . . of making the impossible seem attainable, even easy.

Mars conjunct Neptune is the propaganda aspect par excellence: tell 'em what they want to hear, in order to gain power over 'em. On the positive side, the aspect denotes a willingness - even a yearning - to sacrifice for a higher cause: a quality that can be truly inspirational. However this all too easily devolves into the negative potential inherent in the Mars-Neptune conjunction: one is easily led astray, or becomes deceptive . . . and this can lead to self-destructive behavor, to betrayal, to innocent victims being sacrificed for a cause that becomes all-consuming. The antidote is of course a good strong reality check. Unfortunately, that's a goal so easily lost when Mars aligns with Neptune. Some people manage to manifest the higher and very spiritual potential of this aspect. Many do not.

Examples of people born under the conjunction of Mars and Neptune include Napoleon, US Presidents James Monroe and Bill Clinton, aviator James Doolittle, writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kaiser Wilhelm II, daredevil Evel Knievel, the malevolent Charles Manson, astrologer-writer-composer Dane Rudhyar, astronomer Carl Sagan, World Trade Center bomber Mohammed Salemeh, and composer Richard Strauss. The aspect tends to be a more significant factor in the charts of people born when Mars is aligned with Neptune in angular zones of the natal horoscope or in alignment with additional planets. Examples include Napoleon and Kaiser Wilhelm II (Mars-Neptune angular, in the tenth house), Bill Clinton (Mars-Neptune angular, rising), Jimmy Doolittle (Mars-Neptune angular on the ascendant, conjunct Pluto and opposing the Sun), Evel Knievel (Mars-Neptune conjunction aligned with Pluto), President Monroe (born during the triple conjunction of 1758 with Mars-Neptune angular, setting), Dane Rudhyar (Mars-Neptune also angular and setting, conjunct Pluto as well), and Richard Strauss (Mars-Neptune conjunct and angular in the fourth house, opposing Saturn angular in the tenth).

Richard Nolle, Certified Professional Astrologer phone or fax 480-753-6261 - email rnolle@astropro.com Box 26599 - Tempe, AZ 85285-6599 - USA on the World Wide Web at http://www.astropro.com