Former-President Donald Trump got shot in the ear on July 13, 2024, luckily with no life-threatening injuries. What was happening astrologically? Well, Mars had to be involved. Violence. Guns and weapons. Attacks. These are things and situations ruled by Mars. When people defend their beliefs through violence we are witnessing the dark side of Mars in action.
Trump has Mars in Leo on his Ascendant (1st House). That means his ‘default’ method, his typical reaction to events and other people will be to put himself front and center even if it means being forceful and that using power and violence is always a possibility with him to get his own way. (This is not a personal judgment, but simply an astrological fact based on sound astrological science from centuries of learning. This could be said for anyone with Mars in Leo in the 1st House. They have to be careful with how they interact and react, with how they use the power of force. Will they be bullies or people capable of building something productive and useful?)
Mars is fiery, aggressive, and reactive. This is the persona we’ve come to know and see from Trump. In Leo, Mars’ motives will be seen as a means of defending oneself and simultaneously pumping up one’s ego and self-interests particularly with aggression and violence. Trump literally has this energy manifesting through his Ascendant (one of the reasons its so visible). So as long as he proceeds with anger, defensiveness, revenge, and self-interest he will not only continually deal with more Mars issues directly but he will encourage it in others. It’s serious stuff. Yes, leaders need to be strong and show their strength, but it should not be violently or encouraging violence. There are more peaceful and constructive ways to be an example of strength, to use Mars’ energy in a positive way even when implementing change. (That could be a whole other post..)
Sticking to the topic of Mars and Trump and the shooting, at the time of the rally when the shooting took place, Mars had just shifted to 0 degrees Taurus, having entered Trump’s 10th House of public places and the stage. From the 10th House, Mars aspects the 1st House and Trump’s natal Mars. So we had a doubling up affect of this dangerous Mars energy with this natal Mars and the external 10th House aspect directing it right to Trump’s head. (The 1st House also represents the head.)
He was lucky, though, that Mars was conjunct Jupiter. On the one hand, this conjunction can make this moment more volatile because Jupiter can ‘arm’ people with fanatical self-righteousness not just weapons. This surely was influencing the shooter. But Jupiter’s presence can also be a form of grace and luck, and in Trump’s case, a blessing that saved him his life. Seriously. If Jupiter wouldn’t have been conjunct Mars that day, the result would not have been a mere injury.
Unfortunately people still don’t understand that violence doesn’t solve anything. Any drive to harm an enemy is misplaced, misguided, and out of control. There is a psychological problem. If there is a natal psychological problem it is often the Moon that we look at. If the Moon is afflicted (and most are), then certain issues will be present. Most of us (hopefully) find healthy ways to cope and live with our issues or work with our support system (family, loved ones, therapists) to overcome them and be better people. Trump has a debilitated Moon in Scorpio, ruled by Mars- meaning his emotional state, where he feels good, feels strong, feels comfortable is all driven by this Mars energy. And his natal Mars also aspects this Moon, which amplifies all the aggression. Ketu conjuncts the Moon, which shows his ability to push his own feelings aside. He also has aspecting his Moon a strong Sun conjunct Rahu in his natal 10th House (need for fame and recognition with a strong desire to be on stage). So here we see four natural malefics- Mars (power and violence), Sun (ego), Rahu (confusion and desires), Ketu (the ability to cut things loose) all afflicting his Moon.
The Moon shows our capacity to love and be loved. In Scorpio, the person can feel deeply, more than other signs, but when afflicted, they become overly sensitive making them lash out (with the underlying Mars’ aggressive energy) whenever they feel threatened. They’re emotions can be all over the place, chaotic, and confusing to other people. They easily become emotionally charged and then often have knee-jerk outbursts or impulsive responses. They can be immediately reactive (even explosive) instead of sitting with their feelings and thoughts first and then acting in a civilized, mature manner with levelheadedness and in a friendlier capacity– and still get their point across. They can be so outraged and caught up in their own emotions that it becomes difficult to remain calm and think clearly. Therefore and especially in those charged moments, the qualities of the Moon like peace, gentleness, and compassion become a tall order for someone with a chart like this. Not impossible, but difficult until the emotions settle. (Again- this is not a personal opinion. I’m showing you how astrology works with the very visible example we have to observe.)
Overall, with Mars’ position in Trump’s chart, the aspects, and its impact on the Moon, he would do better to take the high road (if capable?), to show the constructive and positive things that Mars represents. Build things, work to make progressive change without egotism and aggression and certainly without encouraging further violence. In his case (and this would be true for anyone with a similar chart), the violence that he praises, expresses, and doesn’t find anything wrong with will eventually affect him himself sooner or later. He’ll continue attracting it if he doesn’t change his own behavior. And part of this is what we saw happen on July 13, 2024. Hopefully it won’t happen again. No politician, no opponent no matter how much you might disagree with them, no person on stage or off should be threatened or harmed. There should be no place for it and there wouldn’t be if everyone understood how Mars functions in their chart (and within themselves) and if they cared enough to want to exemplify all of the ‘good’ that Mars can bring about. But there are too many immature, egocentric, power hungry people that have the ability (and lack of morals) to continue day after day to act and react with violence.
Look at Mars in your birth chart. Where is it located? Which houses does it own? What condition is it in? What planets does it aspect? Which planets aspect Mars? Where is Mars currently in its transit? Which area of life is affected? How are you feeling in that area? What are you passionate about, what’s firing you up right now? What are you getting defensive about, if anything? Watch yourself and learn.
On a side note, if you’re sensitive enough you might be able to feel the inner heat of Mars in your physical body in the area related to the natal position of Mars in your chart or the houses it owns as well as the house Mars is occupying in its transit. For example, if Mars is moving through the 10th house you may feel heat in your knees.
There’s so much more that can be said about Trump’s chart (including how he has prominent Fixed signs on the angles with four planets there, which makes him steady and stubborn. Once he has his mind set on something, it’s difficult to change course. Hence his latest outburst in response to our current POTUS Joe Biden’s decision to not seek re-election.
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Renate Maria Bell is a certified Vedic Astrologer, Jyotish Visharada, and approved teacher with the Council of Vedic Astrology. She can be reached at renatembell@aol.com
Image courtesy Canva. Donald Trump’s birth data is available from several astrology sites such as Astrotheme and AstroDatabank (June 14, 1946 10:54 a.m. Jamaica Hospital Queens, NY)