Introduction to Mars Retrograde

Much of my writing over the past year or so has focused on the two major conjunctions of 2020. 

The first one was between Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn, right at the beginning of the year. This was, and continues to be a constrictive energy reflecting the widespread fear and political conservatism of our time. 

The second historic conjunction will be between Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius, right at the end of the year. This will usher in a shift in consciousness away from the Saturn – Pluto energy that has built steadily over the last few years, towards a more hopeful future. Jupiter and Saturn coming together in the first degree of Aquarius is an invitation to manifest our dreams in reality. It’s a chance to take our most cherished hopes about the future and begin constructing them in the physical world.

We are fast approaching the conjunction between Jupiter and Aquarius, which occurs on the 21st of December, Winter Solstice. But much will happen before we get there.

2020 Retrogrades

There is an astrological event that overarches all of the time between now and the conjunction at the end of the year; Mars retrograde.

This is another thing that separates 2020 into two distinct halves. Spring into Summer was dominated by Venus retrograde during which we underwent some re-evaluations on how we relate to the world. The shifts that took place, if reflected upon, will be clearer now than they were at the time. During the coinciding lockdown each of our moral compasses shifted slightly, we figured out the things in our lives that we value the most. See [HERE] for more.

Summer into Autumn is dominated by Mars retrograde during which we will undergo reflection on our desire consciousness. Mars tends to act a little bit more above the surface than Venus and so we are likely to notice these shifts happening a little more keenly. 

What Mars Represents

Mars symbolises what we want and how we go about getting it. Whereas Venus symbolises what we value and how that is reflected in our lives. Mars is much more driven to satisfy his desires through action. 

Everybody has a Mars and a Venus in their chart. Although traditionally Venus symbolises feminine desire and Mars masculine desire, everybody has both planets in their chart. This translates to: the aspects of being that these planets symbolise exist in all of us. Even the most dainty feminine 1850s lady sipping tea in an English garden has the capacity to see something she wants and go and get it. This is what Mars represents, our outwardly satisfied desires and how we act on them.

Mars keeps the world turning, it’s pretty much what gets us out of bed in the morning; adrenaline, endorphins, get-up-and-go. 

Tuning into astrology, seeing and feeling what the astrological symbols represent in the world, is a skill that comes with practice. But the easiest symbols to tune into are the Moon and Mars. The Moon because it represents our emotional field, our moods and feelings, the aspects of being we tend to – as the word suggests – feel the most. Mars represents the physical aspect of being. When you stub your toe and you feel the pain (and anger for being so clumsy) that’s Mars. When you have the overwhelming urge to fuck someone, or punch someone, or save someone from drowning, that’s Mars. It’s energy is obvious, urgent, easily recognisable.

Mars Retrograde

When a planet is retrograde the energy symbolised takes on a more inwardly focussed expression. Because Mars represents this very yang, very outward, forward moving expression of energy, when it’s in reverse it’s palpable. More so than Venus or Mercury.

Mars usually drives one to seek satisfaction outside of oneself. This can be through ambition, competition, or simply recognition for a job well done. Therefore it’s retrograde expression can feel a little stifled and stifling. This, like with most retrogrades, is more of a cultural problem than an intrinsic problem. Our current cultural climate of late stage capitalism demands that we must be productive with everything we do. What’s the point in having a hobby if you can’t make money out of it? How dare you spend your time doing anything that doesn’t contribute to your career, or your side-hustle, or your level of productivity. Every aspect of our lives has been reduced to this strange entrepreneurial mindset in which we must keep moving forward and making progress at all costs.

Mars is usually on board with this, but for a few months every couple of years, he demands we slow right down and evaluate our passions and what we are striving for. This can feel at odds with the status quo. That couple of months is between the 9th of September and the 14th of November 2020. 

Mars retrograde feels a little bit like a catapult. You know the kind of hand held catapult that Bart Simpson has. It can feel as though we are being stretched backwards slowly over a couple of months and re-aimed in a particular direction. At around the point where Mars stations direct (14th Nov) we are flung forward into the future. This is a strange sensation when we are used to consistently moving forward, but it allows for a necessary change in pace and direction.

This Mars retrograde is going to be a period in which we slow down and pull back. A time to figure out what it is we desire. We’ll reconfigure and re-aim ready to be catapulted towards the Jupiter – Saturn conjunction at the end of the year. The better we use Mars Rx to tap into our desires the better we can manifest them come the conjunction. The better we can step into the future we wish for.