Ares

Ares, the ancient Greek god of war, courage, and conflict, is the embodiment of raw aggression, bloodlust, and unrelenting strength. Often portrayed as a powerful, armored warrior brandishing a spear or sword, Ares represents the chaotic, destructive side of battle—the heat of combat and the fury that drives warriors to fight. As the son of Zeus and Hera, Ares stands in contrast to his sister Athena, who governs strategic warfare and tactical wisdom. Where Athena plans, Ares charges. Though he was not widely adored in myth due to his volatile nature, he was nonetheless respected and worshipped, especially in Sparta and Thrace, where physical strength and martial dominance were held in the highest esteem.

Ares embodies the properties of aggression, power, fearlessness, and survival. His presence is invoked to awaken primal energy, ignite fierce determination, and conquer fear through direct action. Ares is the god one turns to when strategy fails and force must prevail. His energy brings courage in the face of opposition, pushes through stagnation with explosive will, and protects those who must stand and fight.

A wide variety of herbs align with Ares’s fiery and combative nature, particularly those used for protection, vitality, and strength. Garlic, long believed to ward off evil and increase resilience, embodies the bold, piercing energy Ares represents. Nettle, with its sharp sting and potent vitality, is used to draw on his raw power and stir inner fire. Thistle, known for its spiny defense and tenacity, is associated with protection and fortitude in conflict. Wormwood, bitter and cleansing, is burned to banish negativity and steel the mind for confrontation.

Many crystals resonate with Ares’s bold and battle-hardened spirit, offering resilience, empowerment, and fortification. Bloodstone, a traditional warrior’s stone, enhances physical strength and stamina, lending courage in the heat of adversity. Red jasper, with its grounding, steady energy, promotes emotional endurance and assertive confidence, making it a favorite for those facing long-standing challenges. Iron pyrite, metallic and defensive in nature, acts as a spiritual shield, energizing willpower and creating a barrier against harmful intent.

Ares’s elemental correspondence is Fire, symbolizing his dominion over the passions and fury of warfare. The Fire element channels the heat of battle, the power to destroy and renew, and the driving force behind raw physical energy. Fire in Ares’s domain is not a gentle glow but a roaring blaze—an unstoppable force of motion, conflict, and transformation through struggle.

Ares is linked to the celestial body Mars, named after his Roman counterpart. Mars governs drive, aggression, and the physical expression of will. The martial energy of this planet amplifies Ares’s domain, and working with Mars—especially on Tuesdays, the day ruled by Mars—can empower rituals of strength, conflict resolution, and assertion.

His zodiac associations are Aries and Scorpio. Aries, ruled by Mars, reflects Ares’s boldness, initiative, and warrior spirit, making it ideal for channeling leadership and immediate action. Scorpio, also co-ruled by Mars, adds a deeper intensity to his energy—revealing themes of vengeance, endurance, and transformation through inner conflict. These signs offer dual pathways to working with Ares: outward power and internal fire.

The times most auspicious for invoking Ares include the waning moon, times of personal confrontation or high stress, and moments requiring swift, decisive action. His energy is ideal during martial rituals, competitions, or when summoning inner fire to overcome fear, doubt, or danger.

In rituals dedicated to Ares, tools such as swords, spears, shields, and red candles are used to symbolize his dominion over war and power. Offerings of red wine, raw meat, or drops of symbolic blood honor his appetite for the visceral and physical. Rituals often include chants, battle cries, or assertive affirmations, with red or black garments worn to embody his force. Meditations on strength, assertiveness, or defense may be accompanied by martial drums or firelight, inviting Ares to lend his unrelenting force to those who must fight—and win.