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Mars stations retrograde in the sign of home, family and emotional ties in the domain of the Moon. He also spends five months visiting the house of Cancer, the territory of the ephemeral, ever-changing Moon. The house in your chart with Cancer in it represents the area of life where you got ahead of yourself and now need to repair and redo things. Mars returns to the domain of Mercury, Gemini, on New Year's Eve, which allows us to gather new intellectual tools and information to address any emotional/attachment issues in our lives.
In the course of these months our highest priorities—much of it to do with family, home and security—surface for our intense scrutiny. Mars represent action astrologically speaking. Our actions in two linked areas of our lives come under deep examination not necessarily by others, as we are likely to do much introspection.
Mars in Gemini August 6 - September 28, 2007
Mars in Cancer September 28 - December 31, 2007
Mars in Gemini December 31, 2007-March 4, 2008
Mars in Cancer March 4 - May 9, 2008
Mars Retrograde November 15, 2007 - January 30, 2008
This astrological story becomes particularly personal if we have natal or progressed planets at the sensitive degrees. The retrograde station on the Ascendant influences our physical body, our actions and behaviour. The Universe is reminding us to look after our well-being. Naturally, this may manifest as an illness or accident—the intent might be that you pause on your tracks for a while and re-assess the direction you want to be heading in life. The direct station in the same position might describe the new approach you have chosen, after months of working on changing your attitude. In the middle of the retrograde period, the Sun and Mars form an opposition.
Oppositions are about relationships and compromise, it is a Saturnine aspect thus both structure and limitation are implied—home, family, security vs. career, society, effort, obligations. Mars opposite Sun energy is direct, energetic, assertive/aggressive and combative.
The current Sun-Mars cycle began with a conjunction in the last degree of Libra in October 2006. Now the opposition, akin to a Full phase, illuminates an axis in each chart, which echoes where we are with regard to choices we made a little over a year ago; did we stick to it or has that important choice fallen by the wayside? We also harvest the rewards for our actions and deeds.
Rx Station 12°Cancer27, Mars is at the 12th degree for 16 days!
Direct Station 22°Gemini50, Mars is at the 22nd degree for 22 days!
Mars Rx opposite the Sun 2° Cancer/Capricorn37, December 24, 2007
Mars returns to SR degree April 4, 2008
In order to look forward we need to look back, and bear in mind that future unfolds in relation to what is going on in our lives now. We already had a preview into these issues in the summer, when Mercury spent weeks on end in Cancer.
History: Mars Rx in Cancer 1992, Mars Rx in Gemini 1990
The last time the retrograde cycle backed from Cancer to Gemini 1928-29, 1960-61 and 1975-76.
Retrograde data: Mars is retrograde at approximately 26-month intervals (average 780 days). Mars retrogrades an average of 16 degrees (range 10-20) and on average Mars stays retrograde for 74 days (range 60-81). In the course of 1900-2100 Mars is most likely to retrograde in Leo (23), Virgo (22) and Libra (21); over 20 occurrences in each sign, and least likely in Aries (11), Pisces (11), Aquarius (9) and Capricorn (11).
Cycle data: Mars stays in these two signs for a total of nine months, which tends to be the case when Mars retrogrades back to the previous sign. Even when the entire Mars Rx period takes place within one zodiacal sign, the duration is a little over seven months. Mars spends 29-32% of its time in the sign(s) of his retrogradation.
In terms of nature, the seasonal storms and/or fires are typically more powerful during the weeks Mars is retrograde. Our emotions can be stronger now with an added sense of urgency while Mars remains in the empathetic sign of Cancer for many weeks (until New Year's Eve; rerun in March-April). Whenever a planet is retrograde—moving backwards from our earthly perspective—it is also closest to Earth. (Those emails about how phenomenal this is astronomically belong to 2003.) A planet close to us is akin to having something 'in your face'—difficult to ignore. Retrograde planets move slowly. While we time the station to the date and minute, we need to remember that Mars holds the same note for two to three weeks and visits one or two signs for up to nine months, the period of human gestation! Ask any expectant mother; that is a long, long time.
Canada (Sun at 9°20') and the United States (Sun at 13°20'; Venus at 3°06') are both Cancer nations, and Canada 's economy is booming, our loonie is soaring against the greenback. Watch US currency at Xmas time. The cycle 34 years ago began at 20°Libra and the opposition in 1975 had Mars Rx on the natal Mars of the United States . There are horrific violent acts taking place that seem to be worse than most of us are used to. Security issues dominate the news, we now need identification, passports and other proof in order to cross the border, exercise our right to vote and we pass through security gates at the airport, schools, etc. When you obtain a passport, you are advised that your photo will be entered into face-recognition software—we can no longer be faceless names and numbers… Mars cuts to the chase, likes things fast, orderly (think military) and we need to follow the law! Mars is the enforcer!
How often have you heard friends and acquaintances state that they have been dealing with numerous family issues since the end of September? The statement might be that life has intervened with carefully prepared plans. We are all reacting and responding. Naturally, we do need to remember that we have several other significant shifts taking place with the other planets and asteroids. However, Mars concepts are fairly easy to grasp. Mars rules cutting, wars, surgery, our actions, machinery, arguments, disputes, fights, violence and blood. Mars like Pluto is associated with elimination; people might find throwing old, useless stuff out rather cathartic. Mars is not comfortable in the sign of Cancer (its fall). Planets in the sign of their fall tend to be over-reactive, act inappropriately or in an exaggerated fashion. With Mars assertion becomes aggression, leadership becomes my way or the highway, etc. While living under the Moon's roof, Mars does not have access to his own tools. However, he can coerce the Moon to let go your emotional attachments that no longer exist and have become just a memory. If you are holding onto a pair of size 10 pants and are now a size 16, they have the power to taunt you that you are no longer as trim… Each item in our homes has an emotion or memory attached; why not get rid of it if the energy is negative.
Many Moons ago, I listened to late astrologer Joyce Wehrman speak about getting ready for transits by cleaning the room in your literal house where the transit is taking place. The first house is the front of your house; the second house is where you store financial documents and or pay bills; the third is your office/computer nook; the fourth the kitchen; the fifth the children's room, rumpus room or family room, and the sixth is the closet and storage areas. The seventh is the area where you entertain; the eight the bathroom, toilet, boiler room; the ninth could be a meditation room or sanctuary of sorts; the 10 th might be your front room or your roof; the eleventh might be where you gather with friends or nowadays the room with the bulk of the electronics, and the 12 th is your bedroom and literal sanctuary and any space you don't invite others. I have found this valuable in my personal life, with Cancer on my 8 th house cusp; my bathroom is currently under renovations and in preparation, I cleaned out the contents of the cabinets and tossed out a garbage canfull (big one) of half-empty bottles and jars that I had not touched in years—de-cluttering is powerful, liberating energy!
I don't recall where I heard about the metal implements for Mars, but I have found that working with metal tools while Mars is retrograde is wonderful release for any pent up Mars energy/anger/frustration. I have knitted several sweaters during Mars retrograde, love using a power washer (it's like holding a gun) and stuff is cleaned as a by-product. Think of all kinds of activities where the tools used are made of metal and that could be your 'vent'. This time I am learning quilting working with a sewing machine with metal needles, scissors, cutters, and I will have a comforting, throw quilt—how Cancerian is that!
Mars retrogrades from 12 Cancer to 24 Gemini, which is 18 degrees! This might involve two houses in your chart, and even when only one house is involved, two adjacent signs with little in common are what we need to analyze. One belongs to the changeable Moon and the other to the inconsistent Mercury. There is much change in the stars; with the Moon, our feelings about things change, and with Mercury, our thought processes are adjusted. By early April, we are motoring on an altered path with regard to the matters Mars up close and personal in an area or two of our lives dredged up.
As an example, Mars stations retrograde in the 4th house and returns to the 3rd . Your home renovations might come to a halt, while you look for another contractor, obtain permits or maybe help from neighbours. Maybe you have been looking after an ailing parent and need to have long conversations with siblings in order to free up some of your time, energy and resources. Mars stations retrograde in your 2nd house, perhaps indicating a lack of resources or a cash crunch, as it returns into the first house you spring into action to get help/assistance. Looking at the houses in terms of prediction, it may help to look at the angular houses as action, the succedent ones as sustenance and what we value and the cadent ones as the ones where we can be a bit more flexible and alter our plans.
How it might play out in your chart... consulting with an astrologer might give you additional insights... In the meantime, if you blow 'a fuse' know that it is an expression of Mars Rx.
Copyright Anne Massey; November 11, 2007
© Anne Massey 2007
Anne Massey, CAP (ISAR) is a certified professional astrologer. For personal consultations with Anne call her office at 604-888-9552. More details on the services page. Note you can now purchase reports and charts via email or regular mail and pay for personal consultations using your credit card. The pricing and types of readings are listed on the services page.
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