Mars in Leo Horoscopes: Standing in Your Power
Welcome to The Rising Hearts Podcast—where together we navigate everyday life through grounded astrology and practical spirituality. I'm your host, Kristin Madding. Today, we're discussing…
Mars moving into the sign of Leo, which took place Sunday, September 27, 2026, at 8:49 PM Mountain time. He is going to stay in Leo until Nov. 25—so almost two months. We’re also going to touch on the opposition he made to Pluto this past weekend, on Saturday, October 3.
In this episode, I am going to break down what Mars in Leo signifies and the story that’s unfolding in your house of Leo. At the end, I’ll give some intuitive Mars in Leo horoscopes for each rising sign.
Now, a quick side note about my practice since this is my first astrology-based podcast… my practice is rooted in traditional Hellenistic astrology, but I also incorporate the outer planets. I work with the Whole Sign house system, which assigns one sign to one house—no cusps. As for my intuitive abilities, I work with all of the Claires—but for these readings, the energy mostly came through somatically, so mainly I was using clairsentience, but also clairvoyance and clairaudience. The energy gets filtered through my own perception and utilizes my traditional astrological background, so, of course, you may experience the energies differently.
Before we dive into the Mars in Leo story, for any beginners out there, I’d like to first help you find your Leo house in the Whole Sign house system. You will need to know your rising sign:
If you have Aries rising, Leo is in the 5th house of children, hobbies, and enjoyment.
If you have Taurus rising, Leo is in your 4th house of home, family, ancestry, and the inner world.
If you have Gemini rising, Leo is in your 3rd house of siblings, community, education, and short-distance travel or transportation.
If you have Cancer rising, Leo is in your 2nd house of income, livelihood, self-worth, and the resources that support you on your life path.
If you have Leo rising, like myself, Leo is in your 1st house and describes you, your body, your appearance, and the basic life path.
If you have Virgo rising, you have Leo in your 12th house of hidden things and places… things like subconscious motivations, unseen enemies, hospitals, prisons, and exile (usually metaphorical in nature).
If you have Libra rising, you have Leo in your 11th house of friend groups, social groups, teams and organizations, memberships, and society at large.
If you have Scorpio rising, Leo is in your house of career and public reputation.
If you have Sagittarius rising, Leo is in your 9th house of belief systems and religion; specializations, higher learning, and/or mentorship; and foreign places and people.
If you have Capricorn rising, Leo is in your 8th house of shared resources—such as your partner’s income, assets, real estate, and resources, even taxes (which is the money we share societally) show up here.
If you have Aquarius rising, you will find Leo in your 7th house of partnership… usually marital… but it can apply to business, and we also see court cases and “known” enemies here.
If you have Pisces rising, Leo is in your 6th house of hard labor, bosses and subordinates, health and illness, and pets.
This brief overview should give some context to the areas of life Mars will be impacting.
Now, let’s dive into what Mars in Leo signifies:
In general, Mars is the planet that signifies our basic male or masculine energy, regardless of our gender or sex. We’re talking Yang energy. This is our seat of motivation, where we’re inclined to take action or risks, where we’re willing to stand up and fight. At times, this could show us where we’ve had no choice but to fight because aggression came toward us. Depending on your chart, Mars can be considered an omen of difficult circumstances and can indicate a severing or separating, a wounding, a need to push against. For those born at night or with a well-placed Mars by sign or house, he may take on a more productive, energetic flavor.
Now, let’s factor in the Leo component…
Leo is the sign ruled by the Sun. It represents confidence, leadership, and strength of personal conviction. The house where Leo is located indicates where you shine, where you have natural ability, where you are not scared to speak your mind. It is the sign of the self, identity, and a refusal to be influenced. I think a common misconception of Leo energy is that it’s all about showing off and ego… it can take on that nature early on, and there is certainly a penchant to perform and be seen. However, as we mature, it’s much more about finding authentic self-expression, being completely ourselves, finding a true voice and life path, and being a leader even if no one else follows. There’s a lot of creativity and self-expression in Leo, as well as a loyalty to a cause or tribe that’s become part of the Leo’s identity. Another major signification of Leo and the Sun is the father… often times, when we see things happening in Leo or related to the Sun, it can represent your dad, a father figure (which could be a mom, too), or someone particularly Leo-y in your life.
At its most basic core, combining Mars with Leo indicates a need to defend or stand up for oneself. Mars in Leo’s voice is strong, and energy is forceful. Imagine the angry lion. Now, depending on your rising sign and the house Leo is in, that will dictate what areas of life this Mars in Leo energy will impact. After doing the rising sign horoscopes, the energy was not consistent for each rising sign… for Cancer and Capricorn risings, there was a lot of anger and frustration, whereas most other rising signs will be experiencing a steady increase in energy and motivation to accomplish their goals. Virgo rising was the most “odd one out,” as the energies in the 12th house were much more quiet and internalized. Keep in mind that Leo and the Sun very much also represent the Father—you could find the horoscopes more applicable to your father, a father figure, or another man in your life.
As is true with all astrological transits, not everyone will experience this transit with the same flavor or intensity. There will be variation in your experience based on whether you were:
born in the day or at night,
what sign or house your natal Mars is located in,
what sign and house your natal Sun is located in,
whether you have Leo in an angular house (1st, 4th, 7th, or 10th), and
what other planets or angles you might have in your natal Leo.
Keep that in mind if you watch events unfold, or if you don’t feel much at all.
Ok, so that’s chapter one of the Mars in Leo story. The second chapter is the fact that in just a few days, on Saturday, October 3, Mars will oppose Pluto in Aquarius. Pluto has been transiting through Aquarius for a while now. He started visiting Aquarius in March 2023, followed by some retrograding in and out. He then settled into Aquarius on Nov. 19, 2024. This is a really long transit—about 20 years—ending for good in January of 2044. To ascertain the flavor of this opposition, you’ll need to figure out what house Aquarius lives in and what that signifies. You can find a breakdown of houses and their general meanings on my website. In general, Pluto represents power struggles with powerful individuals and/or forces… and Mars sitting across the table from Pluto is essentially painting a David vs. Goliath story, with Mars being David and Pluto being Goliath. This omen is doubling down on that need to stand up for yourself against the power others hold over you… and that “other,” yeah, it’s likely some kind of social conditioning. You’re being asked to be a more authentic version of yourself now and to stop adopting the beliefs, thoughts, and opinions of society.
The third chapter of this story is that Venus is currently moving through Scorpio, a sign ruled by Mars. That means Mars in Leo is gonna have a say on how Venus shows up in Scorpio, who she affects, and what she does. And on Oct. 3, actually a few hours before that Pluto/Mars opposition, we’re gonna see Venus turn retrograde. For many of us, this chapter of the story will be more like a book, so I’ll make a separate episode on the Venus retrograde. BUT… for the sake of painting a full picture, Venus retrograde indicates a period of time when you’re rethinking, revisiting, and reconsidering relationships and relationship dynamics… especially those indicated by the house Scorpio is in. It’s a time to heal past relationship trauma. For the moment, though, let’s put the Venus retrograde down and back away slowly…
I want to quickly acknowledge this sounds intense. So, let’s just pause for a minute, take a breath, and remember that astrology is symbolic… it’s supposed to be taken metaphorically. Are you really going to have to fight a big guy in the street in a few days? Probably not. But will you, in some way, have to stand up for yourself in the face of a powerful force? Probably. Can that be scary? Yeah, for sure. Change is being asked of you. Can it be for your highest good? Of course, most definitely. Both can be true. My advice is not really to worry about it… but to assume all will be well in the end, because it usually is. But life does contain multitudes, and here’s a moment where you’re gonna have a chance to prove your commitment to yourself and what’s really important to you. There are gifts in all things, even a Venus retrograde and a Mars-opposite-Pluto transit.
To bring some light back into the equation, let’s quickly return to Mars in Leo… you know, on a positive note, Mars is really happy to be in Leo after slugging through the coastal mud of Cancer… not his favorite place to be. Anyone else have fun with that? I have a story time I’ll share on some other episode. But Mars finally has some gusto back, so expect that he might show up and show out early on.
And continuing on the positivity path, Leo will eventually make an exact conjunction with Jupiter, the planet of abundance, growth, and good omens. That takes place on Nov. 15. Now, Jupiter could reignite some of that initial fire, making it bigger as Jupiter likes to do… but he will alternatively, or additionally, bring some much-needed higher wisdom and perspective to the fire in your belly. We’ll allow that to unfold in time.
Rising Sign Horoscopes: Mars in Leo Opposing Pluto in Aquarius
As promised, I have intuitively derived horoscopes for this Mars-in-Leo-opposing-Pluto-in-Aquarius story. I am going to ask the energies that we keep Venus in retrograde separate, as I will feature a different episode on this. The energy is coming through quite differently for the various rising signs—in some cases, the energy is quite angry and frustrated; in others, it is energized and motivated. This is what came through:
Aries Rising will feature Mars in Leo in the 5th house of children, creativity, hobbies, and pleasure, opposing Pluto in Aquarius in your 11th house of friends, social groups, teams, and alliances.
Flourishing of creative output in your 5th house; proliferation of ideas; energy to sustain the commitment needed to bring the ideas into manifest form; related to children: we may see a creative endeavor come forth within your child’s life… a new hobby or form of self-expression.
In opposing Pluto in Aquarius, we see a shake-up in the house of friends, teams, and alliances. Who you thought was on your side may be proving otherwise. You are right to mourn the end of relationships or connections. And yet, Mars in Leo is providing the much-needed foil to this Pluto energy—an opportunity to really focus on something different, something you’re feeling excited and passionate about. Allow the weight and gravity of Mars to pull you in… taking a break from some of the emotional pain signified by Pluto in the 11th.
Taurus Rising features Mars in Leo in your 4th house of home and family, while Pluto is transiting opposite in your Aquarius 10th house of career and public reputation.
Mars in Leo is bringing an intense energy and feeling of power into the root chakra. This is a base-level upgrade in your seat of power. There is significant motivational energy driving you toward your goals, which will vary by person. The energy is sustainable and steady, without many peaks and valleys. Consistent. Whatever you are wanting now, you will have the confidence and motivational force to bring it into fruition. So… less about home and family, specifically, and more about personal, base energies here.
Pluto in Aquarius could very well indicate a change in careers or a revolution of conviction related to careers. How do you want to show up in the world? It’s asking. How can you better serve others… how can you best leverage your power in terms of serving others? This career decision point can utilize this sustained energy of Mars in Leo… they can work together, if you’re clear enough on what you want.
Gemini Rising hosts Mars in Leo in the 3rd house of siblings, community, education, travel, and transportation; meanwhile, Pluto in Aquarius will sit opposite in the 9th house of belief systems and paradigms; higher education, specialization, or mentorship; or foreign travel, people, and places.
For Gemini rising, I see a “get up and go” movement; it has an exploratory component—a seeking drive. My eyes are really burning… which feels like an indication that your old way of seeing is “burning up,” and you now have an opportunity to find your own way. This could be related to siblings—perhaps you’ve been moving through the world or making decisions because of old or current sibling dynamics, and you’re motivated to leave that behind… to cut that cord of responsibility. You’re on a new path.
Factoring in Pluto in Aquarius, we see a real double-down on this paradigm shift. You may be feeling a sense of anger or frustration that what you learned earlier, or beliefs you held, are proving to be false or harmful to you… there is a real feeling of distrust of something you once believed. What I am hearing is, “Be kind to yourself… these are tricks of the mind, and even if you see things differently now, you do not have to sit in judgment of the past version of yourself. Everything played its purpose.”
Take advantage of Mars in Leo now, to explore, to see what vision for the future feels correct and aligned with this newer version of yourself.
Cancer Rising has Mars in Leo in the 2nd house of personal finances, income, livelihood, and resources, sitting opposite Pluto in Aquarius in the 8th house of other people’s resources.
This energy feels more fired up and angry. There is some resentment that is going to surface around finances… it is very motivating and is offering you an opportunity to see the way you make and spend money differently. There is an understanding of your worth… what you bring to the table. There is an understanding now that regardless of what others see in you, it’s enough to feel whole and complete in and of yourself.
Bringing in the Pluto in Aquarius energy, I am hearing the word “sovereign.” You are free from depending on others. You can see the complicated contracts we weave with others when we depend on them for support, financial or otherwise… the concept of validation is coming up here, too. In the past, you may have depended on others to build you up… that need is gone. Enough is enough.
Leo Rising has Mars in Leo in the 1st house of the self, body, life path, and identity, sitting opposite Pluto in Aquarius in the 7th house of partnership, marriage, and close relationships.
Mars in Leo is bringing an intense burning into the chest… is this heartburn? Lol. There is simply a stronger, systemic feeling of power. It’s sustained… no peaks and valleys. It’s confidence and… yeah, power. Impenetrable. Reactionless in the face of others’ tomfoolery. You simply cannot be bothered.
Pluto in Aquarius in the 7th house, opposite, came through visually as you undoing the tangled, complicated mess of a ribbon enclosing a present. Inside the present is a wonderfully fulfilling relationship… deeply loving and serving of one another. But it’s been hiding in this box. So, now, loop by loop, you are untying this ribbon to reveal the relationship you’ve always desired. It’s removing complication that does not serve you. It includes requirements you’ve placed on others, needing them to be in a certain way, and rather, allowing people to be who they are… which in turn allows you to be fully yourself. Radical acceptance of self and others.
Mars in Leo now can be a beacon of light and power, an example of unwavering strength and commitment to the self. Others can learn from you.
Virgo Rising hosts Mars in Leo in the 12th house of self-undoing, hidden forces, the subconscious, and health; Pluto in Aquarius will reside opposite in the 6th house of hard work, health and wellness, and pets.
Mars in Leo brings a sustained energy for quiet introspection. This is a time for dormant motivation… this is not about doing. This is about internalizing the energy, bringing it inward. But be careful not to use it against yourself. This will be a quiet burn. By the time Mars is out of Leo, you will have clarity again on how you want to move forward on an issue.
With Pluto in Aquarius in the 6th house, we’re talking about health, mostly, here. It can relate to overworking and over-serving, which can make you sick. This is a reorganization of the principles of health you’ve been living by. This is very systematic and demonstrates an understanding of how your body works. We can also see a very literal changing of workplace organization. I see the sorting of papers into piles with a new understanding of what goes where. Maybe an AI component at play? I hear, AI can help you develop a new system, or perhaps you’ve had to reorganize because of AI.
I see a pinging of information between the 12th and 6th… a need that arises from the 6th will ping over to Mars in Leo in the 12th, you will meditate on it, and then information will return to the 12th. This is a subconscious process. Sleep on it.
Libra Rising has Mars in Leo in the 11th house of friends, social groups, teams, and alliances, opposing Pluto in Aquarius in the 5th house of children, creativity, hobbies, and pleasure.
I am feeling tensions rising between friends or groups; something has to be sorted out, but it might be best to leave it alone until Mars is out of Leo. Everyone will be sticking to their guns for the time being. There is frustration and a reluctance for anyone to change. It’s not the end of an alliance, but there simply exists opposing agendas with no hope for resolution in the current energies. Recommendation: agree to disagree for now… even laugh at the ridiculousness of the stalemate and leave it be.
Factoring in Pluto in Aquarius, I feel some grief about the changing state of your 5th house. You’re kind of in the slog of transition. It’s slower than you like, but be relieved to know it will pick up. The things that brought you joy aren’t doing that so much anymore. It might be that your kids are growing up, or just the natural evolution of a creative project or hobby that you’re falling out of love with. Allow the grief… it is a portal to the other side of transition. You will start noticing, subtly and slowly, what sparks your joy now. Take note. Write it down. The song of a bird, the bite of a food you like, the melody of a new song that hits you just right. It shouldn’t be profound. You are developing a new system or internal compass for what brings you joy. Allowing is so key in this process.
Scorpio Rising has Mars in Leo in the 10th house of career and public reputation, opposing Pluto in Aquarius in the 4th house of home and family.
Mars in Leo is bringing the energy! Now is the time to get things done and to feel great about it. While many will feel the Mars in Leo in a more sustained and steady way, the 10th house is bringing some real bursts of “the time is now” energy. Take advantage of any and all inspiration and drive to accomplish tasks. This is not really about goal setting; this is about doing… execution, let’s go, fired up.
Pluto in Aquarius is ugh… a bit heavy. I am feeling a real desire to leave that behind for now and focus on the positive energy and fire Mars is bringing into the 10th. Like, there is a real turning away from that Pluto in Aquarius… not even sure I can get intel about it. Nope… you don’t want to look over there, do you? It’s making me nauseous. Well, know whatever is happening at home or with your family can wait… those challenges are not going away. They’ll just sort of sit in the background while you enjoy some much-needed distraction in your career or public-facing world. Take a break.
Sagittarius Rising has Mars in Leo in the 9th house of belief systems; higher education, specialization, or mentorship; as well as foreign travel, places, and people; meanwhile, Pluto in Aquarius is in the 3rd house of siblings, community, education, travel, and transportation.
This is a much quieter Mars than that in the 10th. The 9th house is certainly embodying a sustained, steady energy of acting on behalf of your beliefs. There is a deep knowing of what is important to you now… you will be making values-based decisions during this period. Stay tuned to what comes out of this time when you stay true to your heart and allow a higher wisdom to lead the way. There’s a tinge of: do what you know is right. Follow that deep knowing.
For the Pluto in Aquarius energy… it feels like the structures of society around you are changing, and it’s making you feel some frustration. Why do people do what they do? Why aren’t things working better? Society is annoying you. But… there’s also a resigned, hopeless energy where you acknowledge your lack of power to change things. What’s being called for is a centering and discovering of what’s really important to you, and then a letting go of everything else. Move on, get over it, and stop spending energy being upset about stuff that, in your heart of hearts, doesn’t really matter to you.
Capricorn Rising features Mars in Leo in the 8th house of shared resources; meanwhile, Pluto in Aquarius is in the 2nd house of personal finances, livelihood, and resources.
Mars in Leo is indicating a time of renewed demanding of what you are owed by others. This is more assertive than some of the other rising signs, but it’s not aggressive. You just really know what you’re worth, literally, and you’re no longer asking—you’re telling. You’re essentially ready to stop all movement until you’re given your due.
Pluto in Aquarius is restructuring your finances. This is very much about organization and systems. You might be adding side hustles to supplement your income. You might find that you want to diversify your assets. This is a pragmatic, productive energy. Perhaps some of what you’re discovering from the Mars in Leo is how your systems cannot function properly until you’re given what is owed to you… what you’ve earned fair and square. Once that is sorted out, you can continue with the “reorganization” of your resources.
Aquarius Rising has Mars in Leo in the 7th house of close relationships, partnerships, and marriage; meanwhile, Pluto in Aquarius is in the 1st house of the self, identity, body, and life path.
Mars in Leo is pretty simply showing up as a motivation to find a partner. You’re gonna get back on the apps, and this time, you’re going to find the one… at least, that’s how it feels. For others, I see an increase in libido and desire. You might be asking what will bring you the most pleasure, and it’s a valuable question… don’t shy away from it. Take advantage of the energy.
Pluto in Aquarius is playing a completely different role, asking you in which ways you’re being of service to others. Is it too much? Is it not enough? You are here to be in service, and it’s time to step into that role or to restructure how you do it. There’s no one right answer… but however it feels right to you (look to your natal Saturn placement), know that you have the power to offer others a lot of support and help. This is a really beautiful transition for you, if you allow it.
The ways the energies are working together… is that they’re kind of not. They feel pretty separate. But do know, when you’re able to fill your cup by connecting with others, you’ll have more energy to give to others later. There is something profound about the dance of giving and receiving… and now is the chance to embody that balance.
Pisces Rising has Leo in Mars in the 6th house of hard work, health and wellness, and pets; meanwhile, Pluto is in Aquarius in the 12th house of the subconscious, hidden forces, and isolation.
Mars in Leo in the 6th is giving you a real drive to work… hard and long hours have nothing on you. You seem to have endless energy for menial tasks that usually annoy you. Take advantage of this temporary surge of steady, dedicated energy—you’ll be able to push through on things that have lingered for a while. I see you rolling up your sleeves.
Pluto in Aquarius in the 12th house is forcing you to uncover where you are being taken off track by too much self-denial. You have needs. They’re human and reasonable, and they deserve to be addressed. Overthinking and over-serving can really deplete your energy… so, Mars in Leo will be a nice foil to this energy. You absolutely have the drive now to stand up for yourself, to assert your needs, to get things done… you’ve got this. Enjoy the surge of confidence.