In Vedic Astrology, Mars is known as Mangala or Kuja—the commander of the celestial army, representing action, courage, and righteous anger. Mars doesn’t wait for permission and doesn’t second-guess. When the energy of Mars is clear and integrated, it moves with purpose, conviction, and unwavering direction. Mars in Vedic Astrology signifies dynamic energy and the strength to overcome obstacles, urging individuals to take bold action with confidence and resolve.
I am an integrated warrior. Always have been. But that doesn’t mean the battles get easier.
Right now, I’m fighting on two fronts. The first is for more time with my children—navigating the complexities of co-parenting with someone who sees the situation differently than I do. The second battle is more subtle, more insidious: the gap between who people think I am and who I actually am. The projections. The assumptions. The social distortion that comes with being visible in spiritual and men’s work spaces.
Both battles require the same medicine: clarity, discipline, and the courage to act even when the path isn’t clean.
This is the energy of Mars—the warrior planet. And this month, we step fully into his fire.
Mars in Vedic Astrology: The Planet of Will and Action
In Vedic Astrology, Mars is known as Mangala or Kuja—the commander of the celestial army, the planet of action, courage, and righteous anger. Mars doesn’t wait for permission. He doesn’t second-guess. When Mars energy is clear and integrated, it moves with purpose, conviction, and unwavering direction.
But Mars isn’t just about external battles. The true warrior path, as the Bhagavad Gita teaches, begins within. It’s about confronting your own avoidance, your own shadow, your own capacity for harm—and choosing responsibility over righteousness.
Mars rules Aries (the initiator) and Scorpio (the transformer). He governs the Third House in Vedic Astrology—the house of courage, communication, siblings, and short journeys. This is where we find our voice. Where we learn to speak our truth even when it’s uncomfortable. Where we take the first brave step into the unknown.
The Third House asks: Do you have the courage to say what needs to be said? To take the action that integrity demands?
The Warrior’s Dilemma
Here’s what most people get wrong about warrior energy: they think it’s about aggression. Dominance. Winning at all costs.
But the truest warriors I know—the ones who’ve walked through fire and come out the other side—aren’t the loudest voices in the room. They’re the ones who’ve learned to discern when to act and when to hold back. When to fight and when to surrender. When to speak and when to listen.
I think about Arjuna on the battlefield in the Bhagavad Gita. He’s a warrior who doesn’t want to fight. Not because he’s afraid of death, but because he sees the consequences of his actions. He’s paralyzed by the moral weight of what he’s about to do.
Krishna’s teaching isn’t “stop feeling.” It’s “act anyway.”
This is conscious action—moving from clarity rather than compulsion. Acting in alignment with your values even when every option feels impossible.
My Relationship with Discipline
People see my schedule and sometimes ask: “Doesn’t that feel restrictive?”
No. It feels like freedom.
Discipline isn’t about punishing yourself. It’s about making choices today that support the life you’re building. It’s about showing up for your commitments—to yourself, to your kids, to your community, to your work—even when motivation wanes.
Right now, as I step into my doctoral program, as I continue writing, as I balance being a father and a teacher and a man still learning how to hold it all—discipline is what keeps me grounded. It’s not rigidity. It’s structure that allows for flow.
But I’m also learning this: discipline without heart becomes tyranny. Even self-imposed.
The warrior must also know when to rest.
The Battle You’re Not Seeing
The co-parenting battle is straightforward. Legal. Tactical. I show up, I advocate, I navigate the system.
But the other battle—the one about perception—that one cuts deeper.
When you do public-facing work in spirituality, men’s work, and Tantra, people project onto you. You become a symbol. Some see me as a healer. Others see me as a threat. Some as too masculine. Others as not masculine enough. Some think I should be celibate and monk-like. Others think I should be more sexually liberated.
And the truth? I’m just a man doing his work.
I’m not perfect. I’m not enlightened. I have wounds, edges, and flaws. I mess up, but I also repair. Integrity is my foundation, even if some days I fall short.
The warrior path teaches me this: I cannot control how I’m seen. I can only control the clarity from which I act.
Conscious Action in 2026
So what does conscious action look like for me this year?
It means choosing responses aligned with my values rather than driven by reactivity, fear, or the need for immediate relief.
It means slowing down enough to notice why I’m about to act—not just what I’m doing. Am I acting to avoid discomfort? To seek approval? To control an outcome? Or am I acting because it’s congruent with what I know is true?
It means taking responsibility for impact, not just intention. Even when my intentions are good, I remain accountable to how my actions land—especially in relationships and leadership. That requires humility and a willingness to repair when necessary.
And sometimes, it means restraint. Not acting. Not escalating. Not over-explaining. Choosing not to push a timeline or fill the silence.
Conscious action includes discernment around timing and capacity—both mine and others’.
This Month’s Invitation
January is the month of the Warrior. Not the wounded warrior who fights from fear, but the awakened warrior who acts from love, clarity, and courage.
This week, I invite you to ask yourself:
- Where in my life am I being called to take decisive action?
- What battle am I avoiding because the cost feels too high?
- How can I bring more discipline—not rigidity—into my daily life?
- What does conscious action look like for me right now?
The warrior path isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing up. Again and again. Approach with clarity. Embrace with heart. Act with courage, even when the answers aren’t all clear.
This Week’s Practice: The Warrior’s Breath
Try this simple practice to activate Mars energy and cultivate inner strength:
- Sit or stand with your spine tall
- Take a deep breath in through your nose (4 counts)
- Hold at the top (4 counts)
- Exhale forcefully through your mouth with a “HA!” sound (4 counts)
- Repeat 9 times
This breath builds heat, activates the solar plexus, and reminds you of your power. Use it before difficult conversations, challenging workouts, or moments when you need to access your warrior spirit.
Reflection Questions
- What does the word “warrior” bring up for you?
- Where do you confuse discipline with rigidity?
- What action have you been avoiding, and what would it take to move forward?
With fierce devotion to the path
Shiva J
P.S. — If you’re feeling the call to deepen your warrior practice with other men, The Sacred Kings men’s group begins a new cohort soon. This is where we do the real work—not performing strength, but building it from the inside out. More details below.
