Buckle Up for Mars Retrograde in Aries

by Pam Gregory

Mars transiting through its own sign of Aries is extremely dynamic and will dominate the second half of 2020, especially during the retrograde phase from September 9 to November 13 (28°08ʹ–15°14ʹ Aries).(1)

Mars retrogrades approximately every two years, but it rarely does so in the sign of Aries. It happened last in 1988 and won’t occur again until 2067. This year Mars will be much more powerful than it was in 1988, when it was not making hard aspects to any of the outer planets. In 2020, it will form repeated squares to Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto in Capricorn. As if that weren’t enough intensity, Mars will also be conjunct Eris, Goddess of Discord, for the second half of 2020 (exact in August, October, and December).

As you may recall, there was a stellium of Capricorn planets in January 2020 that included the Sun, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto, as well as the South Node, and asteroid Ceres, Goddess of Mother Earth and her harvest. During March, Mars was not only conjoining and re-energising the January positions of these planets, but was also forming conjunctions with their positions.

The conjunction between two planets is always the seed point, the start, of a new cycle for a particular planetary combination. In this case, there were five new planetary cycles beginning almost simultaneously. So, whatever events were unfolding during March, personally and collectively, will be further testing these new cycles when Mars squares Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto between August and the end of the year. This will include its retrograde period.

Mars will enter the sign of Aries on June 27, 2020. Normally, Mars moves through a sign in about six weeks, but due to its retrograde motion, it will stay in Aries for six months, finally moving into Taurus on January 6, 2021. Mars in Aries is synonymous with strong warrior energy, preferring to go solo and be independent. It displays a keen physicality that is often expressed in a simple, direct way — “There’s a mountain and I’m going to climb it.” There is no need to check in with others or experience doubt. Mars simply finds the quickest, most efficient way to achieve its goals.

Since Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, it’s an excellent time to initiate new projects that require decisiveness, determination, and clarity. Can you plan a new start in some area of your life?

When Mars in Aries wants something, it doesn’t like to wait. Those with natal Mars in Aries tend to feel that everyone else is moving too slowly. This combination is courageous, passionate, driving, and assertive — even potentially combative. Sexual desires may be felt intensely if this retrograde Mars in Aries is transiting your natal 5th or 8th house, or you may become more ambitious if it transits through your natal 6th or 10th house. Wherever the sign Aries falls in your chart will likely become an area of focus and preoccupation during the entire six months Mars is in its own sign.

Mars is retrograde from September 9 to November 13, but the complete retrograde phase includes the shadow period, which encompasses the timespan between July 25 and January 2, 2021.(2) On July 27, Mars forms an almost exact square to Mercury, so “angry words” may start off the shadow phase. It cannot escape our notice that this Mars retrograde period coincides with the United States presidential election on November 3. Mars retrograde can “fight dirty,” so this may portend a particularly combative election campaign, with anger and divisiveness continuing after the election is over. When Mars is retrograde, we may feel particularly reactive and, therefore, be easily triggered, so we all need to watch for that.

Mars begins its retrograde at 28°08ʹ Aries, backtracking to 15°14ʹ Aries by November 13, at which time it stations direct. The station of any planet amplifies its symbolism, so during the days surrounding September 9 (retrograde station) and November 13 (direct station), we may experience strongly assertive energy in our personal lives or witness it on the world stage. The other important power day is the midpoint of the retrograde, when Mars (21°04ʹ Aries) exactly opposes the Sun (21°04ʹ Libra) on October 13. This day is likely to be intense and highly charged. Mars is at its closest proximity to the Earth now, making it clearly visible in the heavens. With Mars in Aries so close, our personal viewpoint may be much more subjective, making it difficult to see things from others’ points of view. We may also become aware that we are taking things too personally and reacting in an uncompromising manner.

With Mars strongly affecting the second half of Aries (15°–30°) during its entire retrograde period, anyone who has natal planets in these degrees of cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) will feel the intensity of this transit. Also notice which house in your chart contains the last 15° of Aries and expect this area of your life to be highly activated at this time.

Mars can trigger both emotional and physical heat in a situation and may do so more intensely when it retrogrades. When planets retrograde, they are also closer to the Earth, so their symbolism is felt more strongly at these times. As an example, in 2018 — the entire Mars retrograde influence, including the shadow period — happened between May 12 and October 8, while the retrograde itself was exact from June 26 to August 27. That year, the Northern Hemisphere experienced one of its hottest years on record, causing many heat-related deaths. In the U.K., we had very little rainfall during the summer and the retrograde period saw record-breaking temperatures every day.

During the second half of 2020, Mars squares Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto repeatedly. In August, Mars squares these three planets exact to the degree.(3) Mars forms an exact square to Saturn on September 29 at 25°20' Aries–Capricorn, just a few hours after Saturn stations direct; then Mars exactly squares Pluto at 22°29' Aries–Capricorn on October 9 (very close to the opposition of Mars to the Sun on October 13); and, finally, it forms an exact square to Jupiter on October 18 at 19°26' Aries–Capricorn.

These powerful transits are all linked to clashes concerning the use and abuse of power. This is one of the major themes of the Saturn–Pluto conjunction in Capricorn, and it is now being challenged by the squares from Mars. It’s possible that people will become much more assertive in response to abuses of power at this time. This entire retrograde period may be forceful, divisive, and inflamed.

The use of power may become an even bigger issue as the retrograde period climaxes, with Jupiter forming an exact conjunction with Pluto on November 12. This suggests the use of “excessive power,” and the conjunction of Mars and Eris in their square to both planets assures that this will be a time when challenges to this excessive power begin to peak. Jupiter conjunct Pluto can also represent ”big money” and the influence it holds in society, so we may see issues of inequality come to a head as well.

When Mars squares Saturn (September 29, 2020), it can feel like we are driving with one foot on the accelerator and one on the brake. If we are able to integrate these two, they can become a source of disciplined energy that helps us to build something for the long term, but the impulse of Mars to drive forward can easily feel blocked and frustrated by Saturn’s rules and regulations and the authority figures that enforce them. Mars always prefers speed while Saturn requires caution. In fact, the whole retrograde period of Mars is similar to this square in that it will require the tempering of our instincts to act with moderation. The energy of the retrograde period is more complex and may feel even more intense.

During this second half of 2020, many people will feel energised, as Mars represents our energy levels. However, during the retrograde period, some of us will experience lower physical energy and have less enthusiasm for getting things done. At its best, it can bring great focus and endurance — similar to a Mars–Saturn aspect or transit — but for some of us this retrograde may provoke deeper questions regarding personal desires and goals. This could even involve a relationship, depending on where Mars is transiting in your chart.

This period is an excellent time to rework or redo projects, as it tends to be more introspective. We may receive helpful insights into how we use our ambition, our drive, our assertiveness, and our sexuality. Do we act too impulsively or react too subjectively? Do we clearly see the underlying issues in a situation?

Any planetary retrogradation is a time for integrating the symbolism that the planet represents. I see Mars as our individual power versus Capricorn’s institutional and governmental power, and sometimes we need to fight for what we believe in.

However, instead of expressing lower vibrational emotions — such as anger and frustration — we can recognise that our true work is inner rather than outer and that a retrograde Mars promises a higher vibration for the purpose of finding our individual sense of self, centre, and power.

Endnotes:
1. This happens when the Earth, moving faster than Mars, passes between Mars and the Sun and creates the effect of Mars moving backward.
2. The first shadow phase of a retrograde planet begins when the planet crosses the degree to which it will retrograde when its retrograde motion begins. The second shadow phase ends when it re-crosses the degree at which it originally stationed retrograde.
3. If transits are not exact, I generally use a 3° orb.

Images:
Planet Mars: Image by Aynur Zakirov from Pixabay
Mars and Aries glyphs: Images by Peter Lomas from Pixabay
Heat and My way: Images by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

First published in: The Mountain Astrologer, Jun/Jul 2019.

Author:
Pam Gregory is the author of two books, You Don’t Really Believe in Astrology, Do You? and the best-selling How to Co-Create Using the Secret Language of the Universe. She holds the Diploma from the Faculty of Astrological Studies, and is an Honours Graduate of Noel Tyl’s Master’s Course. Pam has a thriving YouTube channel and runs a very busy astrological practice in the New Forest, England. You can contact Pam at https://www.thenextstep.uk.com/

© 2020 - Pam Gregory

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