THE INHARMONIOUS ASPECTS

This species of configuration does not favour happiness, and this for a double reason: the
native does actually meet more than his due share of unkindness, and, besides this, he is usually
more sensitive than the average person to it. Venus has much to do with interior happiness, as
Jupiter influences exterior prosperity, and the bad aspects of Mars put this happiness, so to speak, at
the mercy of the rough and rude elements of life. Venus also rules adaptation and all forms of
mutuality and relationship, and the bad aspect of Mars causes these to be unfortunate in some
manner or other. Venus is also significatrix of those from whom affection may normally be expected
(in particular mother, sisters, wife) and the action of Mars tends to make these persons either harsh
and non-understanding, or it may remove them.
It is true that Mars does impart some robustness of temper, so that the native generally reacts to injuries in anger rather than grief, and this is a more comfortable condition. But as Mars
diminishes the Venus charm, so Venus weakens the courage and hardihood of Mars. If Mars
predominates we may see a liking for horse-play (cf. ex Kaiser); if Venus predominates, then there is
such sensitiveness that the least roughness has a prostrating effect.
The lack of real content makes the Venus-Mars person dissatisfied with himself and a keen
critic of others; he cannot take people and things as he finds them; he feels too much and expects
too much.
He is often warmly, but capriciously, affectionate.
The affliction does not, as is sometimes thought, centre round the married and other intersexual relations. There will be emotional trouble, and naturally this will often be expressed in the
above manner, but the family-life and particularly the early family-life is also often the field
wherein the contacts will operate. It is rare to find a person with them who has not lost, or suffered
through or at the hands of, one of the parents, who may be unfortunate in his affairs, die, or practise
harshness to the native. In married life the influence is by no means always towards disagreement
or unhappiness in fact, there may be ardent affection. But separation by force of circumstances is
common. For example, the husband may be obliged to travel, or, again, conditions of health or
business may cause separation in some form or other. It tends also to deny or harm the children,
and as a rule there are but one or two.
In fifteen cases before me the fathers died or were unusually harsh in eight, to my personal
knowledge. In three cases there was family disaster. Other cases were that psychologically
unfortunate person, the only child, or there was but one brother or sister, and that one died.

The bad aspects do not prevent marriage indeed, they seem to promote it in female
genitures, perhaps because the pains of parturition are an appropriate field for the expression of
these influences. But the woman who weds a man with this affliction may find him dominating, not
too refined, egotistical, touchy and sometimes unprepossessing in appearance. If she have it
herself, then the husband may be licentious, sickly, or unfortunate. These rules are of course
subject to countervailing influences.
The health may be affected through worry, strain, and lack of interior tranquility, or through
hurt to the feelings or sorrow. It may likewise denote harm through self-indulgence.