Mars in Retrograde: A Time for Radical Reflection

What happens when one of the most active and fiery personal planets goes retrograde? This fast and furious planet might not go retro as often as others, but when it does, it doesn’t go unnoticed. The Red Planet engulfs us with a unique energy during this period and has hidden benefits that could completely transform our lives.

Mars’ Astrological Profile

Mars was the Roman God of War and I want to start with this aspect of its energy because it can bring out the warrior in us. This red planet boosts our passion, adventurous spirit and the desire to try new things. It’s also the sole ruler of the fire sign of Aries, the first sign of the zodiac with a fiery, forthright and pioneering nature.

As one of the personal planets, Mars infuses us with drive and determination and it pushes us closer to achieving our largest goals in life. But you must learn how to focus Martian energy in the right direction if you are to make the most of it. Mars awakens our survival instinct and bestows upon us the sort of unbreakable strength that no other planet is capable of. And indeed, it can be aggressive, competitive and fierce. But like any warrior, Mars needs a good cause to fight for otherwise all of its energy is wasted or even worse, spent in less than beneficial ways!

A well-aspected natal Mars gives you the courage to face any obstacle that life throws your way. You are confident and have no fear of making even the most complicated decisions. However, a debilitated Mars can make you a bit too intense, impulsive and reckless.

When I interpret Mars in a natal chart, I always look at its sign and house placement, but also at the aspects it forms with other personal planets. The house and sign Mars is in speak of the area of life where its fiery energy will manifest the most. However, Mars impacts everything it touches and can take over other celestial energies. So, understanding its aspects with other planets can help identify its energetic rays and how they spread over our entire lives.

What Exactly is Mars Retrograde?

A retrograde is an optical illusion that gives us the impression that the planet is moving backwards. However, this is only from our earthly perspective as the trajectory doesn’t change. The Red Planet goes retro every 26 months and spends up to two and a half months in this apparent backward motion.

It is said that this particular retrograde is troublesome, regardless of its sign and placement. During this time, the usual energy of this planet is disrupted, creating confusion, frustration, potential conflicts, setbacks, and so on. But is that all that this period is about? Not at all! It can bring opportunities like no other retrograde and it’s up to us to work with its energy to our benefit!

Bearing in mind that Mars is very strong energy, during its retrograde the fiery passion of this planet is no less intense. However, Martian assertiveness, ambition and drive turn inwards and becomes focused on our core energy. It uses all of its cosmic strength to set our inner energy straight and align it with our divine purpose. And it does that in a very passionate and determined manner.

Embrace the Energy of This Special Time

Mars retrograde can be your biggest ally or worst enemy, but the good news is that the power is within YOU. If you choose to work with the energy of this period, you can become invincible in your ability to transform your life. It is like a divine force leading you from within, pushing you to reach your true potential. Here is how you can make the most out of this vibrant energy and manifest its blessings in your life:

Reflect on Your Path

You will feel a bit off during this period, but that is because you focus this energy outwards. Mars is the planet that projects the drive and ambition on our future goals and objectives as well as on everything we want to achieve in our lives. This outward projection is reduced during this time, and we seem to struggle when we want to envision our future accomplishments or start new adventures. All this drive is meant to aid inner work. The secret is to use the passion of Mars, but instead of projecting it outwards, concentrate it on yourself.

Focus on yourself and your path without using this high-spirited energy on new projects. Is your path aligned with your life purpose as much as your higher self guides you? And most importantly, do you follow the right steps to reach your ultimate potential? Ask yourself questions about what drives you on your path and if you should stay on it or maybe you need to change it to one that represents you better.

This is a great time to evaluate your values and desires and ensure that they manifest the way you want through your current journey. Don’t be afraid to make the changes you find necessary but think twice before altering the status-quo during this retrograde.

Face and Resolve Past Conflicts

While all planets bring parts of our past back into our lives, Mars brings back conflicts we should resolve. During Mars retrograde, you will find the right approach and the particular energy you need to end conflicts that are weighing down on you.

Maybe you are experiencing ongoing conflict with family or friends. Think on using the drive of this retrograde to fix your misunderstandings and potentially start over. Mars brings these conflicts into your life so you can discover your forgiving side and apply it not only to others but also to yourself. It is the time to heal and save what is left from your past relationships, or move on with a sense of closure.

Pause and Plan

As I mentioned, this is not the time to start a new adventure. But you might feel this urge because Mars invites you to experience new beginnings. However, when the Red Planet is going retrograde, you should not act on this urge and choose to pause and plan instead.

Focus on the projects you started while Mars was direct and delve deeper into them during this time. This is the best time to go over the planning of the projects and be ready to execute them as soon as Mars begin to go direct once more. You might find that you come up with lots of new and exciting ideas to improve your strategy and increase your potential to succeed!

Own Your Inner Strength

I want to stress the fact that this celestial event shines over your inner strength — it works directly with the roots of your drive and ambition. Why are you determined to pursue your goals, and how resilient are you in the face of challenges? Focus on your inner strength and polish the skills you need in order to achieve your goals.

Remember that Mars is a warrior and often a winner. If you incorporate its vigorous energy within you, there is nothing that get in your way! Become more patient and determined to increase your confidence. This type of mindset can also help you shine brighter and level up your public image!

Mars Retrograde Dos and Don’ts

Dos

Adjust Your Goals

Look at your current goals and check if you still identify with them. If they meld well with your present beliefs and values, continue to pursue them. You might even like to think on some even more ambitious ones. Mars retrograde supports life goals that represent your core energy because you have what it takes to achieve them. They say that when we want something so much, it is because we already have it in a different timeline, known as our future.

If you feel like your current goals don’t make your heart sing and don’t align with your true purpose, this is the time to adjust them. You don’t need to cut them off the list altogether, though! Try to alter the outcome you expect from your objectives and reassess your path.

Build a Foundation for Your Future

Look at Mars retrograde as the foundation for the fight you will lead in the next 26 months of your life, until Mars is back in it’s next retrograde position. Envision your future according to what your heart desires. You want to focus all that Martian energy on your life purpose and set your mind and intentions straight to get ready to manifest your goals.

Prioritize Self Care

Take care of your mind, body, and soul. This retrograde emphasizes your physical health and supports you to get back into shape. You want to increase your strength but also take the time to relax and enjoy yourself.

I like to think of this time as a period when our strengths take over our weaknesses. You will learn to control your impulses and respond rather than react to most situations. Try to acknowledge your vulnerabilities and focus the energy of Mars to convert them into strengths.

Don’ts

Don’t Rush into New Adventures

This isnt the right cosmic narrative for starting a new journey. No matter how much you want that or how attractive an opportunity might seem, take the time to think twice before diving right into a new experience. Whether it is a professional or personal opportunity, take the time to analyze your situation and avoid acting on impulse.

If you want to change your career, I always recommend waiting until Mars goes direct. This doesn’t mean that the opportunities that you came across during this period are bad, but acting on them might not work in your favor. So, postpone starting new things as much as possible.

Don’t Ignore Your Feelings

This period can bring you a lot of emotional wisdom. Choose to understand your emotions and where they are coming from. If you feel anger, you can choose to act on it or not. It is a great time to resolve emotional imbalances and find inner peace and personal control.

If you ignore your feelings and don’t learn how to control them during this time, you might struggle even more to do so when Mars goes direct. Learn to avoid unnecessary conflict and tame your reactions.

Don’t Take Poorly Calculated Risks

Mars invites a certain level of recklessness, especially when it is direct. But you will still feel this urge during its retrograde. Remember that this is not the time to take uncalculated risks as they will not work in your favor. Think twice before you act, and rely on your rational side more than your emotional side.

Don’t Push Yourself Until You Burn Out

Be aware of your limits and avoid pushing yourself into a burned out state. Self-care is mandatory during this retrograde, and it is important to slow down and focus more than take action.

Working too much can damage your health and you will not even achieve the results you so desire. Don’t become too intensely focused on achievements during this retrograde because you may find it harder to succeed.

Navigating This Period

This can be the perfect time to recharge your batteries and get ready for your next adventure. While this period can bring challenging times and an increased conflictual energy, its cosmic blessings can be even more significant than usual.

I recommend that you use this time to start journaling. Write down your deepest thoughts and focus on your best qualities. You want to become the best version of yourself through your divine gifts. Mars brings you the drive to evolve without the support of external factors. All you need to do is use writing as a form of therapy and release your thoughts and feelings on paper. 

I also recommend going back to old projects that might need improvement. If you postponed something for way too long, this period can help you to finish it the right way. This time of the year offers you just enough Martian drive to complete your old projects and the wisdom to do so effectively. 

There is no doubt that Mars, even in retrograde, will infuse you with more spirited behavior and impulsiveness than usual. Indulge in physical activities to release some of that excess energy healthily. This isn’t a good time to engage in conflicts, and if you feel a situation is heading in that direction, work out or go for a run!

This content, like all content on Stars & Paths Astrology, is entirely human-made.

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