THE INHARMONIOUS ASPECTS

These are frequently stated in text-books to be of a violent character, indicating brutality,

cruelty and bloodlust.

It may at once be said that this is by no means invariably the case; in fact, the writer has at
least two friends with this combination (the Square) who are conspicuously kind and in fact gentle,
there being of course other indications of this nature in their maps.
It may be said that it may incline to a certain hardness and sternness, but if the rest of the
horoscope is good this may be necessary to the native by reason of his occupation and the tempers
of those with whom he has to deal. Again, the severity may be turned inward and there may be an
inner austerity and self-discipline.
Its chief effect on character appears to be of a quite different kind. The Saturnian influence
acts as a brake on the Martian energies, and I have certainly often noticed a sort of erraticity in these
people, so that their enthusiasms are sudden and violent, but short-lasting, with alterations of
blowing hot and blowing cold. Sometimes there are spells of laziness, due to the inhibition of the
Mars action; sometimes there is a restless energy without good directing common sense when Mars
overcomes Saturn. Definite purpose often seems lacking, as if the native regarded life as
something of a childs game, passing from one interest to another lightly and inconsequentially.
However much in earnest such people are (and often they seem very much so), I have noticed that
they commonly forget their pursuits as soon as they cease to amuse them. True depth is generally
deficient. In one case there was great love of starting fresh enterprises and considerable ability in
this way; but the native soon lost interest in them when the initial difficulties had been surmounted,
and left them to another; here Mars was also Square Uranus.
There is usually a certain amount of selfishness or egoism. Thus, even when there is real
kindness of heart, the native likes to go his own way, and will not readily turn aside from what
interests him personally in order to minister to others. There is an inclination to impatience with
those who do not readily agree.
Exteriorly Mars-Saturn tends to a life of hardship and suffering, as well as to the undergoing
of physical violence.

The former may occur in the way of health. There is a danger of strain and excess; and this
may be followed by the need for prolonged rest, rigid attention to dietetic and other restrictions, and
otherwise paying the price.
It seems to have a distinct affinity with enteric fever.
There is also a liability to burns and scaldings(*).
The Square is not uncommon in the horoscopes of victims of murdering, as for instance
King Humbart, Willie Starchfield and Savonarola. In all such cases other potent factors will occur in
addition, for the bad aspect of two planets (as apart from Sun, Moon and Angles) cannot, however
serious, destroy the life prematurely or violently.
General Charles Gordon had the two planets in Trine, but Mars was debilitated by sign. The
same occurs in the case of Alexander II of Russia (killed by bomb).
It does not by any means forbid success, though this will come late and after severe
struggles.
(*)Mars-Saturn seems connected with fire in a wide sense, for Warren Leland, who lost wife
and children in a great fire and died of shock in consequence, had them in Conjunction. Also Dr.
Alfred Russell Wallace, who lost his scientific collections by fire, had them in Square. In another
case communicated to me privately an officer with this aspect was recommended for the D.S.O., but
never received this decoration because the papers were destroyed by fire and the recommending
officer was killed at the same time.