Mars On The Strategy Degree: Two Men Playing Chess

Mars is on Sagittarius 3: TWO MEN PLAYING CHESS

This is an interesting degree for Mars to be traversing and Mars will transit this degree three times over the coming months as it will go retrograde and then direct again over it. So, we have this image coming up quite a lot in the coming months. Can you feel it? Do you sense that the ‘stakes of the game’ may have gone up a peg or two? Are you observing people arguing, trying to get the better of each other, demanding that others see their point of view, etc? This is a degree of strategy where the aim is to take the other out. And, after all, this is Mars. And, Mars has just been transiting Scorpio, so things are more likely to come out into the open for all to see.

The following is from my book The Sabian Oracle: 360 Degrees Of Wisdom –

Commentary: ‘Two Men Playing Chess’ is an image of people concentrating and planning moves in order to defeat their opponent in a game. They have to be quiet, focused and attuned to what it is they’re doing if they want to succeed. The theme of a ‘Chess’ game is to knock the opponent out, to literally kill the king, and to take his position and his territory. There can be a certain degree of tension in the air as each tries to “checkmate” the other. First, one may appear to be “winning”, and then the other may make a sudden, sometimes completely unexpected or unforeseen move, get the upper hand and take the whole game. Alternatively, it could be an all-out slaughter if one person is more practiced or efficient at the game than the other.

Oracle: In the current situation you may need to be very thoughtful and cautious about the moves you make and the risks that you are prepared to take. It’s important to take into account the wider picture and all the possible outcomes of any actions taken. Impulsive acts with no forward planning will probably be risky and may lead to others taking advantage of the situation. The same can happen if you show your weak side. There can be a lot at stake here if you lose, but there may be much to be gained if you win. Effective strategies and forward thinking maneuvers are needed. Take some time to compose yourself and assess what’s really going on: you may then find the way forward or out of the maze or conflict. However, it can be very difficult to relax in this type of competitive environment—one often feels that they can’t let their guard down for one moment in case they are taken advantage of, or overtaken, in some way. Keep your concentration focused on the main aim and outcome. Take one step at a time, thinking all the while, and move with purpose and forethought.

Keywords: Strategic competition. Seeing the picture several moves ahead. Arguments that can go on and on. Finding justification for being combative. Throwing down the gauntlet to the other. Taking lives. The need for peacekeeping. War strategies. Matching wits. Facing each other head on. Being royalty or being a mere pawn. Tactical maneuvers. Lawsuits. Custody. Having the bigger stick. Divorce. Disputes. Wit against wit.

The Caution: Depending on pure luck. Underestimating the opponent’s skill or strategy. Arguments and arguing for the sake of it. Bickering and trying to get the better of the other. Always taking an opposing side, no matter what is really happening.