My chart is heavily geared towards empathy and energetic enmeshment with others and this series has been so refreshingly useful at just drawing that energy back into my being so I can Get. Things. Done. Interesting side not, it dramatically increased my tolerance for hot foods and changed my palette for the duration of use! Normally I’m into creamy, sweet things but this series prompted my first foray into collecting hot sauces! That palette preference I think effectively illustrates the constitutional shift that occurs with use of this materia which leans more hot and active and, in my case, as a contrast with my typical baseline constitution, it has felt balancing and tremendously helpful. Not an every day series by any stretch but when I do need it, it’s just the ticket.

I started working with this oil last spring. I've got a debilitated Mars but Antares in parans with my Sun and Moon, and I wanted to get to know the energy and how to work with it. This oil is *extremely* powerful. Shortly after beginning to use it, I became aware of the need to sever ties with a collaborator who has been profiting off my work without adding any value. While that was a difficult situation, working with this oil helped me figure out how to be assertive and, to the best of my ability, cleanly cut ties and protect my work. It's provided the fire I need to act rather than just stew. It's also really helpful for staying productive and focused throughout the day. I typically work with it weekly on Mars' day, though I have had periods of taking breaks to integrate the lessons and cool off. Overall, it's been a big reclamation of my power, assertiveness and voice.

Go lightly and give it a job….and wow.
I got back into sports after a very very long time away. I joined a volleyball and badminton league. Once i got over the reluctance of using such a powerful force, i annointed my runners and gave Antares a focused job: let me be steady, focused, strong, precise, quick and instinctive….holy smokes did it ever pull through. My partner then welcomed trying some, and he was on FIRE that night….his skills went to the next level. My ability to perceive, respond and fire back were magnified in a palpable way.

The only other subset I've used from Antares is HotES, but this is absolutely different from the latter. Both are powerhouses, of course, but despite HotES being considered a sort of an undercover, venomous femme fatale, I find that way more darkness emanates from the main Antares materia (for me, personally). Maybe I just vibe with the HotES materia better. Main Antares seems much more offensive as opposed to defensive, which is obviously desired in a certain (right) time & place. I can see this being absolutely unparalleled for, as stated above, anything competitive, or in any situation where one desires to be dominating, in control, intimidating, powerful, the mistress or master of a skill/ location/ other person/ etc.

I've totally fallen in love with this offering even after some tricky experiences. Please know a little goes a longggg way. I practice a martial art and typically train almost exclusively with men. I've found when I use this oil before training I not only perform better, I also can check my feelings at the door--incredibly helpful when you are typically a very feelings first type of person. I put this on and just want to double leg bros. Highly recommend.

I've found the Antares series a lot more approachable than I expected, though obviously don't disregard the warnings that go with this series. I have Jupiter conjunct Antares, so my experience may have been more benefic than some. That being said, I love this series, and find it empowering and invigorating without any negative side effects to speak of (though I wouldn't use it when feeling fragile or worn down in any other sense than just being a bit tired - I have a sense that it would be too much at a comparatively vulnerable moment). I apply it directly to my skin (in a very small amount) before vigorous physical activity when I'm feeling too tired to really do it, and it always gives me the boost I need. I've also found it very therapeutic for Mars affliction. Kaitlin said that those who are most afraid of this series are probably those who most need it, and surprise, surprise, she was right! Its empowering effects seem to come from a productive channeling of Martial energies - giving Martial energy focus, precision, and efficacy. I've always struggled with integrating Mars and Venus energies in a productive way (how can you be Venusian and Martial at the same time?!), and this series has lent tremendous support in resolving those dissonances and kneading them into a more coherent sense of self. Do be careful, as he is spicy, but if you feel called, I would say to go for it (cautiously). I got a mini initially, but I'll definitely be getting a full-size when it runs low. (Also, it smells amazing - spicy and rich. If the glory of battle had a smell, this would be it!)

My sun is at 9 degrees Sag conjunct Mars and Antares. I own the set of oils. Like others I use the Dragon to charm when need be in situations where I might need to be a bit larger than how I really feel. (My Chinese astrological sign is the fire dragon.) The Badger for when I need to be a bit of a social maverick, which does not come naturally to me. Like the other person who reviewed this, I know it is strong but I have used it as the ultimate protection when my power is not so strong due to debilitating circumstances.

I do not annoint with other series when I use these to balance out the edges. Instead, and excuse my spelling, I gravitate toward Venus series items (across three series) and Deneb at other times when I have other intentions.

This series has allowed me to embrace who I am, and this particular oil is what I gravitate to when the situation seems nebulous but leaning toward challenging or when I can feel that I need to
power up, to be strong. I suppose if I had a slogan for it it would be “Mountain Pose” but the title came to me first, so it is Mountain, in the Eye of the Needle to me. Gratitude to S&S for life changing products.

This PACKS a PUNCH! Admittedly, I've only been using it for a little bit, but the energies felt strong enough to make a review already. I do a lot of working with spiritual entities, and have burned a smidge as an offering for them- they went nuts over it, very potent. One of them remarked it is just as intense of an energy as the description suggests (and then warned me not to overdo it since it's so strong lol).

I've also put a tiny dab directly on my skin (not necessarily something I'd recommend for most people, but it meshes well with my energy so it feels just fine to me), feels very "spicy". Even forgetting that it had fire energies, it just feels like it has fire energies. I ended up doing a decent chunk of work (both physical and metaphysical) that I've been putting off with its help.

I appreciate that only a tiny dab is needed to get excellent results, that's going to make this last a long time. Thank you for everything once again, Sphere + Sundry!