Ask The Collective: Mars in the Zodiac: Are You a Bear?
Ask the Collective…
My husband told me this story (circa 2007). I thought it so disturbing I had no plans to repeat it until it just keep coming up over and over again and I decided to start sharing it with a couple of people.
The first gal I told seemed to react akin to the way I did but the next pal, also a woman had a completely different read so now I want a larger sample. But besides that, I jut think this is a freakishly interesting topic so here goes… this is a true story.
Two boys go to a fair. This would be in the 60′s before “animal rights” existed which is probably one of the reasons this story disturbed me. And I’m sorry if it upsets you in a similar way but if I don’t write about the animal here, then there will be no story, so…
The boys went to the fair and they had this bear in a ring and the bear had on these boxing gloves. He was up on his hind legs and sort of weaving back and forth, with his (gloved) paws sort of waving in the breeze. And the deal was, you could box this bear. And further, if you could stay in the ring for three minutes with the bear, you could win a prize. This sounded great to one of the boys who paid his money, put on some gloves and got in the ring with this bear.
So the boy starts beating on the bear. He started punching this bear in the chest as hard as he could. He was beating on this bear… just really hitting him HARD, while the bear was just sort of doing nothing. The bear was still waving his gloves back and forth but he wasn’t doing anything. He wasn’t fighting back.
So the boy was feeling great. He was going to beat this bear for sure, but right before the 3 minutes is up… the trainer / the attendant of the game blew some kind of dog (bear) whistle and the bear goes WHAPPPPPPPPP! Knocks the boy clear out of the ring with one punch.
::smiles::
And there are a lot of points in this story but the one I am interested in today is this:
Are you a bear? Or are you a person who thinks you can mess with a bear? Because I think a bear can recognize a bear and they don’t mess with each other all that often.
I am a definite bear, though a very good-natured one. You can beat on me all day and all night. You can beat on me for weeks or for years while I try to peacefully eat my berries but if I ever decide I’ve had enough, you’re going to go flying.
Where is your Mars?
68 Responses to “Ask The Collective: Mars in the Zodiac: Are You a Bear?”
I’m sorry – I have Mars in Leo. Oppsing my moon; Square my ascendant (Taurus); sextile Venus; trine Jupiter; sextile Uranus; and semisquare Neptune.
I’m not a bear. I don’t like living in cages or small places where I don’t belong when I should be roaming. And someone doesn’t tell me pull a soprano on anyone. I’m a tree.
Bear cub should be a choice. I bet half of us under 30 are thinking we can take on the bear, and also slowly growing to be bears.
Mars in Sag.
Hi Elsa,
I’m not a bear. I react quickly to provocation, though I’d never react with physical violence. Verbal retaliation is a different matter!
Mars in Scorpio conjunct vertex, trine Pluto (out of sign).
My Dad was the best example of a bear that I’ve known. He’d take it for weeks, months, years, but when he blew….he blew!!!! His Mars was in Taurus.
My Mars and my South Node are in Aries, which indicates a fighter, but I voted ‘evolved beyond.’ I have experienced so much fighting in my life (I grew up with a volatile family), if someone tries to mess with me I just walk away. I have no fear of looking weak OR fighting back. I just don’t want to do it. When I was in high school and someone challenged me to fight, I’d just say forget it.
I want to avoid pain at all costs, LOL!
Secretly, I imagine I could kill with my bare hands (excuse the pun) if need be. That’s the Aries fighter instinct, I guess.
I am definitely a bear. I’ll take crap forever, but if the poker really presses the point, if he/she gets in my face big enough, I’ll fight back. And I always win. 
I found the story disturbing as well, but not so bad as I imagined.
I’m not a bear, I have almost instant reactions, I just can not stew over something, I need to react then and there. Mars in Sag in the 9th, conjunct Merc, Moon, Midheaven, Neptune square Saturn.
With Sun/Merc in Aries, Mars in Leo and Pluto rising I take very little shit from anyone. Thankfully I don’t have the hare-trigger I used to have in my younger days. I might take one poke, but if you poke me again? Look out!
Mama Bear!!! Mars in Cancer conjunct Mercury and South Node in Gemini in the 5th house.
I think your option of “evolving beyond the animal kingdom” is hilarious!
I respect bears. I’m not sure I am one. I take just long enough to plan my reaction. mars in aquarius, I wish it was quicker then it is.
Other times I transcend the anger. I’m never angry for more then a few weeks anyway, so long term reactions isn’t for me.
I quite like Beorn in the Hobbit. He turns into a bear at night and heads off to the mountains. You want him on your side. He has horses and is a gruff character, but OK if he likes you. The trouble with being a bear is you don’t want to do diplomacy – you want to swipe out with your paw, deal with it – and social niceties that put people at their ease can be tiresome as well.
mars in cap. As much as I’d like to be evolved beyond the animal kingdom,I’m a bear. I can take some serious punches for a long time. then, well… its over.
I would be the bear in this context. Someone above mentioned that they’re a Mama Bear, and I can identify with that. If someone pokes at me I will let them carry on until I’ve had enough and decide to set them on fire. But if it’s a loved one being poked, well, then the claws will come out.
In my chart Mars is conjunct to Jupiter, and both are in the 4th house in Virgo.
I see no one here is [whatever] enough to admit to poking bears, although I have seen people take a poke at the resident bear (???).
whenever someone takes a poke at me I invariably think: what, are you kidding me? there are plenty of people who don’t know a bear when they see one.
scorpio mars, third house, inconjunct saturn… when I take them out, it’s fast and clean, and the right thing to do.
Mars in Gemini. This type of situation really sets me off. I can hardly stand to see anyone taking a poke at another “person” just for the heck of it. I’ll take a good bit of punishment myself if the punisher means a lot to me…but once I’ve had enough you will know it. I’ll let you have it and be gone from your life forever. No looking back.
Mars in Virgo conjunct Moon, Uranus and Pluto, opposed Sun, Venus, Saturn Chiron in Pisces. I’m not a bear. Piss me off one time you’re lucky I don’t rip your head off 
It’s never a good idea to “poke” me. I also don’t go around “poking” people.
I have a lot of respect for the animal kingdom and firmly believe that if humans are stupid enough to mess with them, they get exactly what they deserve.
I’m pretty easygoing until people push me too far, and that’s when I bite. Mars in Leo in the 5th, conjunct the Sun, sextile the Moon (Libra), inconjunct the MC (Capricorn).
Funny to read this because last week, I provoked a “bear” and he blew at me big time. It was unexpected. My Aquarius mars doesn’t want to care so I’ve stopped talking to the guy and erased him from my brain. I should have known not to mess with a Scorpio but I’m still learning. Oh well…
I’m a bear who wishes she had the opposite kind of trainer – one who blows a whistle in time to stop me from eviscerating the person who is poking me.
I don’t think I’m a bear…I have a relatively short fuse. I don’t have to get poked and beat on for hours on end before I’ll react…hit me once and it’s on!!! But once I’m over it, I’m done…and we can talk about what we both did wrong and be friends again.
I am a Leo, with a Gemini asc and Sag Moon. I have Venus conjunct Mars (exact) conjunct Pluto in Libra in the 5th house.
I’m not a bear, I’m a tiger! *lol* It’s a definitive poke-poke-WHAM! for me — I’ll let one poke slide to decide whether or not someone’s worth my wrath, but if they’re “worthy” and poke again? Ohh, it’s ON.
But once it’s over, it’s over. No stewing (well, 90% of the time no stewing), no extended apologies on either side, just movin’ on.
Mars is conjunct Venus and Pluto in Libra and hits everything in my chart. I identify more with felines (hello, Leo Sun!) and always have — I just can’t feel “bear.”
Bear for sure! It takes a lot to make me angry, but once I’ve absorbed many pokes from the same person and decided it’s really worth getting all worked up over – I’ll react fiercely. It’s doubly surprising to the poker, because they never see it coming. Planned anger, inhibited anger or just well-timed anger, don’t know which, but that’s usually how my Mars/Saturn gets expressed.
Mars in the 12th, in Taurus no less. I will take a lot… A LOT… but when that final straw finally gets placed, you better run the fuck out. LOLOL
My 1st house Taurus Mars definitely sides with the bear when somebody gets their head bitten off for poking him… but sometimes my Pisces Sun runs quickly in the other direction to avoid bears.
Mars in the 12th in Aquarius. I’d like to say I’ve transcended the animal kindom (kinda fits with that placement) but I suppose after enough prodding I’d likely shapeshift into a bear!
Mars in leo, I think I have been a bear but not so much these days, I’m mellowing!
Being Pisces, I’m a sort of aquatic bear – I can put up with all kinds of shoving around and poking from others, but being a slippery fish I can almost always swim off to put some distance between me and the bullshit. But stick me in a goldfish bowl (i.e. an office) with some domineering asshole or a passive aggressive type, some place where I can’t escape with a flick of my tail, then I suddenly turn into a shark and shred the offender into pieces with my sharp teeth. Five seconds later, and I’m the nice little goldfish again. Really freaks others out.
Mars in Cancer will accept/endure a lot of pokes, but when I retaliate it’s nuclear and nothing shall ever grow again in the spot where you poked this bear.
It depends on the kinds of pokes, and how well I know the person. I’m more likely to be immediate and swift with a stranger, especially if they are being outright disrespectful. I’m also likely to show others how to do this, by example (it’s like teaching the baby bears). However, I don’t get so much violent as able to make the other person so embarrassed that they walk away with their tails curled under their bums.
With people I’ve known for awhile, I’m a lot like the bear. It’s because they’ve got to have had some good qualities for me to like them to begin with, so when they start poking, I give them the benefit of the doubt for awhile. I even give them little warnings. Then they cross the line and BAM! Soul murder and then DEAD TO ME.
I am definitely a bear. Mars in Taurus. ‘Nuff said.
I am not a bear, but I respect bears and have no sympathy for those who poke bears. I have been dumb enough to poke a bear myself a time or three.
I remember this story from years ago, Elsa!
I’m very much a bear. I will take crap, mainly bc I don’t put much stock into other people’s issues–and they’ve gotta have issues if they think messing with me is a good idea!–and when I’ve had enough, when they clearly haven’t gotten the point and are gloating, I strike. Usually only takes one swipe to bring them down, and then I can go back to my life as usual.
I think I am a bear…I will put up with a lot from someone but then something clicks, much like that whistle being blown, and I will do the unexpected. With my Mars deep in the 12th house but nearing the 11th, I have wapped some friends who have taken advantage of me pretty good and they don’t see it coming.
I’m a bear…mars and saturn conjunct in Cancer, in the 6th house, square sun in Libra and trine venus in Virgo.
I am definitely a bear. I am very patient, calm, and non combative (despite a Sun square Mars) until I decide enough it enough. Then you will be knocked on your ass and it will hurt, a lot.
Mars in Taurus square Sun, opposition Pluto, trine Saturn in the 8th.
Oh man, that story brought tears to my eyes.
I am a definite bear. Mars in Virgo/12H. I can take a lot, but if pushed to the limit, my shadow side appears..
Yes, In the Medicine Wheel, Virgo is the Bear.
I have mars in pisces in the 12th. I’ll put up with a whole, whole lot particularly when its with someone I love–but when the pressure blows, it blows the lid off. Stand back….
I will negotiate with the bear, the trainer, and the poker in an effort to get them to understand each other. Way way too much libra here.
leo mars conjunct leo asc. i take a lot (cancer sun) but if it crosses the ‘line’ into abuse, watch out… especially if it is directed toward those who can not defend themselves as well as I.
oops, forgot, my leo mars trines my saturn sag in 5H
One of the girls I used to work with, one of the only ones with whom I am still in contact after all these years, refers to me as Mama Bear. As in: she will fight to the death for her cubs, but, if one of the cubs needs a swat upside the head, she will deliver that too.
Like this bear, I will allow others to take swings at me over and over, until finally, I get tired of it, and swing back. Usually, by that time, its so hard, that everyone cries foul, because big bad meanie hit them…..I’ve warned them over and over to leave me alone, but they never listen.
Retrograde mars, in Pisces, opposed by my Virgo mercury, trined by my Scorpio saturn
@mebeme – LOL!
Sun and Mars in Aries, I generally don’t take to poking but am learning to walk away. Though I am “bad cop” in any interaction when it comes to defending my own. I charge in and say what needs to be said, while “good cop” husband sits back and delivers the killing blow.
ha ha–last time I wrote here, I voted “evolved beyond.”
Now, guess what? I’M A MOTHERFUCKING BEAR, YO!
A pretty cute one–but a bear nonetheless;)
I’m a Taurus, with Mars and Moon in Aries. If there’s anything I hate, it’s badgering. I’ll give a warning. Anyone with any sense at all, should heed it.
OMG this makes me laugh!! I’m a 5’3″ Scorpio, and I am so proud of myself for not unleashing the venom I know I am capable of when pushed too far (I don’t get freaky and bad-mouth insulting – I speak the truth, ouch) – but even so, as gentle and compassionate as I think I have been with people, my dearest friends have upon occasion referred to their fear of me (I don’t get it – they’re twice my size and could beat me to a pulp!)and there’s that little thing they refer to as Mandy’s Wrath. I made a collage (my favourite) that says: Today is a good day to sing and dance and ROAR!
I have mars in leo but it’s in the eighth house. I think I might be the trainer. At least until my Inner Nun got news of this larceny.
Buh bye kid…
I think I’m a bear. For a considerable period of time, I’ll try to talk about stuff that’s buggin’ me. I’ll wait for the right moment, believing that people can’t “hear” if they’re hungry, tired, mad, or sad. So I wait. If first time doesn’t fix it, I’ll try again. But then … at some point … I’ll decide it’s a hopeless project. I won’t WHAP the person physically. But with a few choice words, he/she’s outta the park. At that point, I turn on heels and it’s over. I’m gone.
Mars 3 degrees Gemini. Sometimes think I have a good teaspoon of Taurus with that early Gemini.
I’m a Mars in Taurus type of person. I guess I’m a bear, because I usually don’t like conflict (not to be confused with arguments, at least in the philosophical sense of the word), especially of the emotional type (I’m mostly air and earth), but there is only so much I am willing to take until I blow. Admittedly, I some times play with/test people in order to give me an excuse to amputate them completely, but I blame that on my Pluto aspects, and possibly Uranus in Scorpio in the 11th.
ok. I hate to admit this, but I’m afraid of bears. I’ll run away. I have my Mars in Pisces. But my moon in Aries – so here I feel really the tension- because I have difficulty to express the anger which I keep all inside…but with a little help of the Taurus, I’ll led it blow out in the end.
My Mars is exalted in Capricorn in the Eighth House so I will patiently figure out where the blow will cause the most damage and chances are you won’t see the punch that will knock you out coming, but you will never forget it, cause it will hit you were it REALLY hurts.
mars in scorpio…a bear that stings…lol!
Mars in Libra (heh) opposing my Aries Moon.
I’ll give a million chances for a person to straighten their shit up, but once I decide I’m done, they are going down HARD.
I find myself approaching that place now, in fact, with a situation that did not have to turn out this way. I’m gonna nail that son of a bitch.
I have the same placement krisinluck and I will never throw anyone under the bus but when I am done I am DONE!
I like how Michael put it… I also have Mars in Pisces and will avoid being poked or trascend it or whatever… but, then when enough is enough? My bear has a Scorionic stinger that never misses it’s target.
Bear, Taurus.. what’s the difference? haha.
and yes, Mars in Pisces can only hold me back for so long.
@Stellium in Taurus – thanks for that!
My thoughts are that I put up with too much poking at home as a kid so it’s an interesting question to ponder. Not being totally in touch with my own bearness, I’d nevertheless be the mother that will strike to protect her cubs. I definitely respect the bear as a symbol of strength that can be gentle or terribly fierce.
Mars in Sagittarius…. I’m not a bear , but I will help the bear if he’s getting overwhelmed. If the bear is fighting for a cause involving “injustice”…. I’ll be right beside him ’till death or victory.
I’m a 12th house Sun Virgo and I relate to the Native Medicine Wheel bear but that’s more about hibernating as a necessity and being a good caretaker. My Mars is cj NN in Capricorn 4th. I figure when Pluto is finished with me I’ll have finally come to terms with stuffing anger habits developed in childhood. I’m with Glenn on helping any bear fighting injustice.
I’m a 12th house Sun Virgo and I relate to the Native Medicine Wheel bear but that’s more about hibernating as a necessity and being a good caretaker. My Mars is cj NN in Capricorn 4th. I figure when Pluto is finished with me I’ll have finally come to terms with stuffing anger habits developed in childhood. I’m with Glenn on helping any bear fighting injustice.
Definitely bear. When I’m finally tired of the crap, I’ll drop a bomb. If anything, I probably wait too long.
Sun, Moon, Jupiter and Mars in Libra.
Scorp rising. Thank God.
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I’m a double Taurus and can handle much poking – however, when I’ve had enough I’ve had enough. I always said you don’t want to unleash the Bull – but bear describes me perfectly as well. When I get mad I can clear the house in record time. Then, once I’m over it, I’m over it and I go on as if nothing happened – I forgive and forget quickly as well.
Great story – I see you have 100% bears so far with two votes in.