Hail, red Mars, with multiple strategies,
bravely pushing troops all around the board;
Hail, Jupiter, fat with his vanities,
treating conquests as though his team has scored,
not knowing what costs in blood or in arms
were offered to push or pull the markers —
how clean the map looks! How swift pieces move!
No private's immune to a prince's charms,
but shifting this squad to take those fuckers
on that there hill — how bloody that will prove!
Civil command of martial directive
is rather more new than any would want.
It begins as a needed corrective,
when true reports of atrocities haunt
official historical narratives
or prove that violence can be its own need.
Divorced from territorial intent,
there's no proof that the best imperatives
come from civilians: they have rage, and greed,
just like soldiers; and their hearts may be bent.
by other vices than unjust love of war.
Lords Mars and Jupiter — temper them well
so neither is as certain as before,
nor eager to send anyone to Hell,
or make a town square a place of battle,
or char houses and hospitals to ash,
or make the orphan weep for his mother.
Let them fear making suburbs to rubble,
limbless veterans out begging for cash,
or new foes swift to avenge a brother.
This conjunction of Mars and Jupiter in Gemini occurs today, 14 August 2024 at 11:05 am EDT — for us US east coasters, it’s in the ninth house of travel and tourism and foreign adventures; but this is also the place of writing, publishing, magic, and also higher education. It’ll be interesting to see what effects result.
The conjunction occurs at 16° Gemini, in the degree directed by Saturn in the Term of Venus and the Decan of Mars, all under Gemini’s ruler Mercury. Mars has no special dignity in Gemini, and while Jupiter is in detriment here, he’s also a Triplicity ruler in Air signs which grants him a magistracy that’s out of character with his reputation here. The signifier would suggest an outbreak of illness in a tourist destination, an airport, or on a college campus; but Jupiter’s rulership suggests a calming influence overall, while Saturn’s single degree governance suggests limits or boundaries.
