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To paraphrase the adage, “sex isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” And if you find yourself driven like an addict for your next fix of physical intimacy; if all your energies seem consumed by the quest for sex and that’s your primary focus; if you’ve no sooner finished one encounter than you’re thinking about the next, then the culprit may be Black Hole Mars. When the planet ruling sexuality comes into contact with the intense obsessive/compulsive qualities of these deep space powerhouses, it’s hard to concentrate on anything else.
Black Holes are collapsed stars whose gravity is so strong that not even light can escape them, and they become, essentially, invisible. But that doesn’t mean, “out of sight, out of mind,” for these astronomical anomalies have a pervasive, inescapable effect upon their region of space, sucking in all matter in the region and distorting the very fabric of space/time itself. Astrologically, they represent total abandon, inescapable conditions, intense focus and personal magnetism or ability to attract; the startling, stunning turn of events in the twinkling of an eye, where old conditions disappear and a new reality is birthed.
Mars linked with Black Hole energies indicates, at a minimum, an unusual relationship with sex. These individuals are compelling, magnetic and attractive, able to easily draw in partners, as desired, to (attempt to) fulfill their desires, needs and fantasies. There may be a tendency to go to extremes, as Black Hole Mars denotes both the celibate ascetic and the debauched libertine; sometimes each will manifest in the same individual alternately, or at different phases of life. Most Black Hole Mars individuals fall somewhere in between, but there is an undeniable pull toward taboo or forbidden practices, and same sex attraction is common.
Sexual matters can become obsessive, and there is a greater than usual tendency to keep sexual matters secret or hidden, thus deception from or toward others is also possible. There is further the increased probability of these folks maintaining a “second,” secret life in sexual matters, and even one’s closest intimates may be unaware of these elements. There is generally a large sexual appetite with this placement, one others may consider excessive.
Sexual impulses may also be erratic and overpowering when at peak, with again, periods of intense activity punctuated with long “dry” spells without sexual contact. During these periods, indeed, at all times, Black Hole Mars may be very active with autoerotic practices, and the fantasy life is rich and vivid. Sexual magnetism is enhanced, with these individuals attracting others easily, albeit somewhat haphazardly. Partners may appear suddenly, without expectation, and disappear again just as quickly once the passion burns itself out.
Black Hole Mars can also be experimental and predatory in sexual matters, inclining to partners or situations whom others see as inappropriate, unworthy or offensive. There may be an attraction for secretive, unsafe or daring, even dangerous, practices or partners, and the sexual nature can be all-consuming. There can be an element of thrill-seeking, with risky behavior acting as an aphrodisiac. A great deal of energy may be expended in sexual pursuit and conquest, and Black Hole Mars may be psychologically fixated on the subject. This combination is unlikely to be satisfied with a single partner, nor is serial monogamy preferred by the these individuals, who have a marked propensity to stray, always seeking new experience.
Famous Black Hole Mars Individuals
Many famed womanizers share Black Hole Mars, as do a number of women prominently noted for their sexual personas. Hugh Hefner, the founder of modern soft porn in his Playboy empire, embodies a bit of both Black Hole Mars extremes. A virgin until the age of 22, once he got going, he never looked back. By age 27 he was publishing Playboy magazine, and crafting a womanizing image which continues into his 80s. Hef has Mars at 12 Aquarius exactly conjunct a Black Hole.
Basketball great Wilt Chamberlain is easily as famous for his sex drive as his hoop shots. In his autobiography, A View From Above, Wilt the Stilt confesses to sexual relations with more than 20,000 partners; in the words of his lawyer Sy Goldberg, “Some people collect stamps, Wilt collected women.” Chamberlain’s Mars at 7 Leo is within orb of one Black Hole at 9 Leo and tightly squared a second at 6 Scorpio.
Other self-confessed Casanovas include actor Charlie Sheen, who claims in excess of 5,000 conquests, and Kiss rocker Gene Simmons, with a tally of 4600+. Sheen’s Mars at 9 Scorpio mirrors Wilts, conjunct the Black Hole at 6 Scorpio and exactly squared that at 9 Leo; Simmons’ 22 Cancer Mars is involved in an exact T-Square with Black Holes at 22 Libra and Capricorn.
Actor Warren Beatty is another case in point, with estimates of more than 12,000 partners, including such celebrities as Barbra Streisand, Carly Simon, Daryl Hannah, Madonna, Diane Sawyer, Goldie Hawn, Julie Christie, Joan Collins and Diane Keaton. Beatty’s Mars at 4 Sagittarius is exactly conjunct a Black Hole.
Women with strong Black Hole Mars personas include actress Marilyn Monroe, with Mars at 20 Pisces squared the Black Hole at 19 Sagittarius; Xaviera Hollander, “the Happy Hooker,” a ‘70s sexual icon with Mars at 14 Aries opposed the Black Hole at 13 Libra; and Anna Nicole Smith, Playboy model and actress, with Mars at 27 Capricorn filling out a Grand Cross with Black Holes at 26 Aries, 28 Cancer and 28 Libra.
But the Black Hole Mars grande dame, with the planet of sexuality at 15 Taurus conjunct a 16 Taurus anomaly, is singer Madonna, who built an entire career on expressing her sexual persona. From albums “Like a Virgin” to “Erotica” and her show-all book, Sex, the lingerie-wearing, cone-bra-strutting Material Girl best exemplifies the power of Black Hole Mars to captivate, entice, seduce, and provoke any reaction short of satisfaction. In her own words: “I have always loved to play cat and mouse with the conventional stereotypes. My Like a Virgin album cover is a classic example…. The photo was a statement of independence, if you wanna be a virgin, you are welcome. But if you wanna be a whore, it’s your … right to be so.”
And that is Black Hole Mars!
How to Find Black Holes in Your Chart
Black Holes can be found at the following degrees, and if your Mars falls within 5 degrees of conjunction, or 3 degrees of opposition or square, then you’re potentially subject to their effects. As always, the closer the stronger, and the exact conjunction is by far the most powerful.
- 24 Aries
- 27 Aries
- 6 Taurus
- 16 Taurus
- 24 Taurus
- 9 Gemini
- 13 Gemini
- 4 Cancer
- 9 Cancer
- 28 Cancer
- 3 Leo
- 9 Leo
- 28 Leo
- 7 Virgo
- 9 Virgo
- 14 Virgo
- 25 Virgo
- 1 Libra
- 13 Libra
- 22 Libra
- 29 Libra
- 7 Scorpio
- 11 Scorpio
- 26 Scorpio
- 4 Sagittarius
- 5 Sagittarius
- 10 Sagittarius
- 18 Sagittarius
- 19 Sagittarius
- 26 Sagittarius (the Galactic Center)
- 3 Capricorn
- 5 Capricorn
- 16 Capricorn
- 19 Capricorn
- 22 Capricorn
- 4 Aquarius
- 12 Aquarius
- 13 Aquarius
- 17 Aquarius
- 28 Aquarius
- 16 Pisces
- 24 Pisces
- 28 Pisces
Related: Black Hole Venus: Love Crazy or Crazy Love?
About the Author
Alex Miller is a professional writer and astrologer, past president of Philadelphia Astrological Society, and the author of “The Black Hole Book.” His astrological focus is deep space anomalies such as Black Holes and Quasars, and minor bodies of our solar system, personal-named asteroids and TNOs. Alex can be reached for questions or comments at glaktix@verizon.net, or for readings at DayKeeper Journal.
Oh my frickin’…!
When I started reading this, I could immediately identify with it.
“There may be a tendency to go to extremes, as Black Hole Mars denotes both the celibate ascetic and the debauched libertine; sometimes each will manifest in the same individual alternately”
“there is an undeniable pull toward taboo or forbidden practices, and same sex attraction is common.”
“a greater than usual tendency to keep sexual matters secret or hidden, thus deception from or toward others is also possible. There is further the increased probability of these folks maintaining a “second,” secret life in sexual matters”
“Sexual impulses may also be erratic and overpowering when at peak, with again, periods of intense activity punctuated with long “dry” spells without sexual contact”
“a marked propensity to stray”
And the worst of all:
“experimental and predatory in sexual matters, inclining to partners or situations whom others see as inappropriate, unworthy or offensive. There may be an attraction for secretive, unsafe or daring, even dangerous, practices or partners” !!!!!!!
Reading this, I just knew there ought to be one heck a lot of aspects – and I was right.
My poor unfortunate Mars in Gemini has to deal with:
2 oppositions – one dead-on!
2 really tight squares
And then… 2 trines (really tight ones), a semi-sextile and 2 quincunxes.
*gags*
I thought I had heard the worst when I found all the Venus-Black Hole aspects in the other article. But this is every bit as bad.
I’m truly beginning to understand why I’m as sick and twisted as I am. Why I like partners other people consider inappropriate. Why I stray all the time. My weird fetishes, and screwed-up fantasies. Etc. …
*sigh*
I’ve said this before I think… I ought to stay single! Me + a relationship = chaos!
Oh, c’mon… 😛
My Mars is exactly conjunct one and I didn’t even start to count other aspects. I reckon all our planets aspect black holes and there’s plenty of us with such placements…
@Fleursdumal –
I’m absolutely positive that you’re right.
But I’m also p-r-e-t-t-y sure that few people have as many problems, and can identify with this stuff as much as I (unfortunately) do… so…
That’s my point.
BTW, if you think the Pisces is whining now – you hereby have permission to spank her…! LOL 😛
I personally would use much tighter orbs given the prevalence of BHs.
Here’s Alex’s comment regarding Fleursdumal’s criticism: http://sasstrology.com/2011/02/black-hole-venus-love-crazy-or-crazy-love.html/comment-page-1#comment-137015
So frustrating. How does one learn their conjunctions, etc.? I have an astro.com profile and can see the aspects, so do you just look at the first degree presented? How are you supposed to know which to add 3 or 5 degrees to? Because the way I am seeing it, it would seem many people are likely to have black holes with all of the possibilities.
For instance, I have a Venus Trine Mars 5°29. Or amm I supposed to be looking at this or my Mars in Virgo 12°58’52? And, how do I know where I am supposed to add degrees? All so confusing!
Is there a website or a book that can be recommended that explains this more thoroughly for people who are trying to understand these aspects?
@novlady your Mars is at 12 degrees Virgo, so you can look at the list of BHs. Look for any numbers that are close to 12. For example, there is a BH at 13 Gemini, which gives you a Mars square BH because Virgo is square Gemini. This is the tightest aspect because your Mars is just 2 minutes away from 13.
I do use pretty tight orbs. Tightening them even more would wipe out only 1 square and 1 quincunx, all the other aspects are almost exact. Especially the oppositions. As I wrote, one is actually dead-on.
Also, taken from the comment in question:
“black holes act as pluto x 10, with a good dash of uranus thrown in, and some of the isolating effects of neptune. in the 20+ years i have been working with these points, my experience has been that, even if you have venus/outers, if there is ALSO a BH involved, this magnifies the effects considerably.”
If this goes for Mars as well as Venus?
I don’t know, but presuming it does: I have aspects between Venus and all three outer planets, and aspects between Mars, Uranus and Neptune as well.
I guess it comes down to whether the BH aspects would account for your experience in a way that aspects to the outers wouldn’t.
@Jeffrey Kishner
Oh, it wasn’t a criticism…did it sound like it? It was more of a realization. And it came after me having also a Black Hole Venus. Wondering what else is there? Dispair? 😛
@Katrine-Marie
Sorry, I was talking to the OP. Didn’t question your post, otherwise I would’ve put @Katrine-Marie, as I usually do. 🙂
As a personal comment, I do and don’t identify with a Black Hole Mars. It actually depends on the partner and on the emotional connection I have with him. I have been celibate for 3 years, in the past, but never a debauched libertine, never same sex attraction (talking about the extremes of this aspect) and sex was NOT my primary goal. A good r.ship, asa a whole, was/is. Never had a secret sex life. But with the right partner (the one I’m with right now, for instance), it becomes true. Can’t have enough of him. but never risky behavior. My privacy issues are too big and I love monogamy.
Oh man…my Mars is Aries 28 degrees and the BF’s is Scorpio 24 degrees. We’re doomed!!
In the words of Brian Griffin: “Oh COME ON!”
Mars at 13 Gem, Venus at 3 Can.
What the hell, man?
@Jeffrey Kishner
Thank you. That gives me a bit more clarification.
Where can one read more about this?
How does a square vs a conjunction amplify the effects?
@novlady I would interpret these aspects the way one would interpret any aspect: the conjunction means that the two archetypes are working in tandem but that the native is not necessarily conscious of their expression; the square indicates a level of conflict or tension that would definitely bring the dynamic into conscious awareness.
There is an archive of Alex’s writing on BH at Daykeeper Journal.
This is soooo Eerie, :)) I love it. I’ve got a black hole conjunction of Mars in 7 degrees Scorpio. A little obsessive compulsive is right, but I thought my thing about sex was just my mars conjuncting my Pluto. This is like, another element to add to it. Interesting,
♂ ☌ ♇ is quite enough to account for obsessive compulsive sex, but BH would certainly amp it up.
Scorpio and Pluto are already known for extremes, so just how much more extreme can the BH add? It actually seems a little intimidating,
HAHAHAHAHA!!! My 9th house mars in taurus is in exact conjunction with a BH. Mars is retro, so at least the beast that is me is held in check a little bit. However, it sextiles my 7th house moon and trines my ascendant. I also have blackhole venus aspecting Pluto. I’ve had an interesting life to say the least.
@Jeffrey Kishner
Thank you.
thank you soooooooo much for this article…..this answered so many questions about myself….omg lol
ohhh Mars 0 degress virgo….yeah lol smh
haha oh man Mars conjunct BH @ 5 degrees Cappy and i’m also dealing with a pluto transit conjunct my natal mars. fun times.
hi, all!
sorry to be incommunicado, but i was in the great internet-less north for a few days.
as far as orbs, i’ll say again, obviously, as in all cases, the tighter the most strongly felt. but over the past two decades, i do see clients who feel these energies as far out as i’ve described. if you’re not feeling it, don’t feel ‘left out.’ :^) just discount it for you.
as to the multiplicity of points, this is a fair issue, but i see it as one that validates rather than limits the usage of these points. eventually, as vast as the universe is, we’ll probably be describing one at every degree, which isn’t to say they aren’t influential, rather that they’re more present than we realize, a continual background hum in our daily life.
because on a deeper level than simply sexuality, BHs provide a framework for how we alter and co-create our realities. they relate to the processes of choice and self-determination. why do we take the left fork and not the right? what would have happened if we’d made a different choice? BHs open us to the level at which we manifest from the void, and are active whenever we shift realities, from things as simple as leaving the relatively controlled environment of our house in the morning to enter the broader, less controlled field of life, to more dramatic life passages such as puberty, marriage or bereavement, where we irretrievably enter into a new stage of our process. BHs act as door wardens, liminal guardians overseeing shifting realitiesas they change.
as regards defining differences between contacts to BHs and those to outers, think of it as different levels, like a game of skill. there’s a ‘normal’ level of function with plain mars/uranus, which is intense enough, but then there’s ‘level 2’, where the challenges are harder, the potential rewards greater. BHs act as amplifiers of the circumstances of the natal chart, and can be seen especially when things get ‘weird.’ think of it this way (if flippantly): mars/uranus may be attracted to sex with foreigners involving electric appliances; mars/uranus/BH seeks jihadists in zero gravity environments. there’s a whole ramping up to another level when these points are involved. another key signal that they are active is the energy level involved, and the intensity of the native’s focus on these issues; when these matters become the be-all, end-all, it’s a sure sign the BH is exerting its pull.
as to aspects with BHs, as jeff says, it’s pretty standard. conjunctions are the most intense, but also the easiest to incorporate, as the two points are in some sense enmeshed and working in tandem. squares bring challenge and conflict, oppositions seem to initiate in ‘the other’ and can provide clarity or enlightenment, trines often produce unexpected opportunities.
and as always, there are exceptions. people who seem impervious to whatever the cosmos throws at them, who sail through helacious transits with a chipped nail or a sprained ankle. but BH placements may help to explain why one mars/saturn is a little reserved in bed, and another can’t get enough cops on the scorecard. it’s all ahout the chart as an entirety, of course, this article just establishes the types of areas typically active for those who have this contact.
but take heart! we’ve now run out of sex and relationship planets! :^)
but seriously, if you’re feeling overwhelmed or defeatist in this, remember that we can’t hope to change patterns in our lives until we understand them, and bring consciousness and focus to them. knowing why things are as they are is a start to making better choices. this is what you’re drawn to naturally; it doesn’t have to be how you react.
one more point – the article only describes the range of possible effects of BH mars in regards to sexuality, and most people do not experience ALL the possible effects. but additionally, mars relates to many other areas of life, which are also subject to BH energies. so your BH mars may be fairly quiet on the sex front, but manifest as obsessive workouts or physical activity; there may be reproductive organ anomalies or related health issues; anger management issues; intensive involvement in the military or related matters; issues with abuse or violence, etc. BH mars frequently plays out in sexual matters, as this is such a pervasive issue for us, but there are a broad range of other areas it can be channeled into.
I have every planet conjunct a black hole, am I a sucker or what??
Mars in Pisces 25 degrees
Venus in Pisces 24 degrees
Sun in Aquarius 29 degrees
Mercury in Aquarius 5 degrees
Neptune in Sag 28 degrees
Jupiter in Sag 8 degrees
Uranus in Sag 8 degrees
Saturn in Scorpio 4 degrees
Pluto in Libra 29 degrees
Moon in Taurus 4 degrees
I have some researching to do.
Yep. Intense sexual encounters to intense celibacy. Too bad I’m “like a virgin” right now lol!
Amazing work. I just found out the connection between Mars black holes and sex. Great job. I’ll keep this in mind.
I might be mistaken but if considering only 5 deg conjunctions and 3 deg oppositions, only the following positions seem not to fit under the black hole phenomenon:
Aries 4 – 10 deg, 16 – 19 deg
Taurus 29 – 30 deg
Gemini 0 – 1 deg, 22 – 23 deg
Leo 20 – 23 deg
Virgo 19 – 20 deg
Libra 6 – 8 deg
Scorpio 19 – 21 deg
Aquarius 22-23 deg
Pisces 3-4 deg
So, 93.6 % position of Mars would be either conjunct or opposing a black hole.
And if you include the squares then there is not a single position of Mars that is not affected by a black hole.
I’m calling shenanigans on this whole BH-mars/venus thing. Looking over the list of BH’s, it would be impossible for anybody to NOT have either their mars or their venus aspecting a BH, or 5.
Something that is ubiquitous can also be said to be non-existent.
In fact, BH’s are so common in everyone’s chart, I can’t imagine a single person not having at least a BH/mars grand trine, if not a grand cross.
If you’re reading this, then let me break the bad news for you, your mars is aspecting at least two black holes. Probably more.