How you take action
You act according to your principles and your own logic. Once you have thought something through, you are hard to talk out of it, which is the fixed side of this sign. You often look for a better way to do things rather than the usual way. You may work well in groups and networks, as long as you keep your freedom to think for yourself.
Ambition and work
You are motivated by ideas and by making a difference to more than yourself. Astrologers link Mars in Aquarius with technology, science, social causes, community work and anything new or experimental. You may resist traditional career ladders and prefer work that lets you innovate. Being part of a larger change can matter more to you than personal success.
Anger and conflict
Your anger tends to be cool and principled. You may detach and argue from logic rather than show heat, or you may suddenly rebel against a rule you think is unfair. People sometimes see you as distant when you are actually very upset. Acknowledging the feeling as well as the principle makes your stance easier for others to understand.
Desire and attraction
Your desire is linked with friendship, freedom and the mind. Astrologers often say Mars in Aquarius needs a partner who is also a friend and who respects your independence. You are drawn to people who are original, open-minded and a little unconventional, and you may resist relationships that come with too many expectations.
Physical energy
Your energy comes in unpredictable waves. Traditionally this placement is linked with unusual or group activities: team sports, new fitness trends, cycling with a club or anything you can experiment with. Astrologers associate Aquarius with the calves and ankles. You may lose interest in exercise that feels too routine.
Challenges
Detachment and stubbornness are the main hurdles. You may distance yourself from your feelings, rebel for the sake of it or insist on your view because you have already thought it through. Caring about humanity can sometimes be easier than dealing with one person’s needs. Letting yourself be personally involved, and open to changing your mind, keeps your ideals grounded.
How long Mars stays in Aquarius
Mars takes about 687 days to orbit the Sun, so seen from Earth it comes back to Aquarius roughly every 1.9 years. Between 1960 and 2040 it passes through Aquarius 43 times. A typical passage lasts 39 days, and the shortest 38 days. The longest, from May 3, 1971 to Nov 6, 1971, adds up to 187 days in Aquarius, because Mars turned retrograde in or near the sign. In this period, 2 passages last more than 100 days. Everyone born during the same passage shares a Mars in Aquarius, so the house and aspects of Mars in your own chart add the personal detail.