Mars Retrograde 2012

Mars stations retrograde on the 23rd of January 2012, 18 hours after the bold and brave January New Moon. Mars will traverse up and down 3 – 23 degrees Virgo and will spend roughly 10 days on a degree while it stations These degrees will become highly sensitized. My take on Mars retrograde is as usual different from most Astrologers. The retrograde effect is an illusion, but the fact that it aspects one degree 3 times is very real. Just as I said for Mercury retrograde, I believe this period gives us a chance to look at things from a right-brain perspective. The effect is cyclical not linear, it is internalized and intuitive. It is suggested that this a time where we find it hard to express our anger and become passive aggressive, I’m not sure I believe this to be so.

Mars Retrograde Meaning

Mars is in retrograde motion for an average of two and a half months every two years, which is only 10% of the time. What I do think happens, is that the Mars impulse is slowed down and deepened. Mars retrograde makes a lasting impression and every move is planned carefully and strategically. I have read that Mars retrograde is akin to it traveling in the 12th house, which to me makes more sense as I was thinking the feel is quite Neptunian/Plutonian. I believe Mars retrograde is about karmic rebalancing and it’s mission is spiritualised.

The effect of the fixed stars that Mars hits on it’s path with be the coloring factor to this retrograde in 2012. A Mars retrograde is a long drawn out affair that happens every two years. Since Mars is about sex as well as well as war, it will cause us to re-evaluate our sexual relationships. Our ambitions and goals also come under scrutiny. If you look at the chart you will see the dates when each of the degrees in Virgo get retraced. Things started in the shadow period from the 19th November until the 24th of January will get two more hits. During the retrograde you will be able to turns things round and see them from another angle. Then when they are direct again in the out-going shadow you get to see if the decision or idea was really viable or not.

In my opinion then, I think Mars could do with having the heat taken out of it at times, this gives it a chance to make daring decisions with a cool head. Another point to consider is whether to start a war. In modern days, war-mongering could be to start legal proceedings or initiate a new business venture. Tradition opinion is to wait till Mars is direct again. I think it all depends on whether your intentions are honorable, because the universe will take charge of the outcome. Retrograde cycles are fated times, one must surrender to the forces. Mars is about bravery and confronting danger. So Mars retrograde is like riding a choppy 12th house sea. More Saturnian/left brain types may like to wait until things are calmer and have more control of their vessel. But true swash-buckling adventurers will trust that if Neptune loves you, he will get you there unexpectedly faster and award you a bounty of treasure for your courage.

Mars Retrograde 2012

Mars set sail into the shadow zone on November 18. Our hero hit the fixed star Zosma in constellation Leo on December 5, it was also benefited by a kindly trine from Venus. This could’ve been a time of turning things around if you have been feeling victimized. Some compromises were made after a row. Hasty words to Mars from Mercury square. On the January 8 Mars was on the cranky lions tail Denebola, just before the Full Moon – Thaw! This moon also talked about victimization, since we had a grand trine to Sedna. Mars was also revving up Eris too. You will not see the last of skeletons let out of the closest on this day, they come back to haunt you around the 1st week of February and are resolved between June 16-18. January 22 sees Mars hit the fixed star Alkes, the Holy Grail. This star refers to gifts and talents passed down through the family. However, those gifts can come with a price as there is some unexpected events and disorder indicated. This star is activated for a good few days while Mars is stationing retrograde. So we are made to look what family traits we want to keep and which ones are causing upset in our lives.

Mars stations retrograde January 23 and remains within orb of Alkes until January 30. The retrograde chart itself gives us a very powerful Mars/Sedna/Mercury grand trine. Mercury is exactly on the Peacock while Mars is still on Alkes of course. We have already talked about Sedna and it’s history of betrayal from the father. There certainly seems to be a theme of ancestral inheritance, for good or for ill. Peacock was said to represent Argos the builder of the famous ship Argo (A constellation). I think this is quite apt since I was likening this whole Mars cycle as being somewhat like a voyage.

Fixed star Peacock gives a long life and sometimes fame, maybe this is our prize if we are brave enough to set sail during a Mars retrograde. There is certainly a sea-faring theme to this cycle with Sedna featuring in a few grand trines. We may risk being thrown overboard by a treacherous boss or father figure, but in our despair we find our true calling. Since this retrograde occurs after a new Moon, then the seeds of intention we plant here carry extra poignancy. We go deeper with them, but these are longer term goals and we will have to wait for June 19 before they bear fruit. What sweet fruit they will be!

Mars re-visits the turbulent feline Denebola February 6 and opposes Mercury/Moon on February 22, which could bring on a tempest. Time to batten the hatches. What’s more the transiting nodes are on the powerful Antares/Aldebaran axis. This is an incredibly fated, nodal time when the archangels will be watching. We revisit December 22 2011 again as a pre-christmas ghost bellows about the sails. March 12 we get an interesting grand trine that involves a the Lilith conjunction Jupiter and Pluto. This is a fantastically potent and magical moment. Mars on Zosma in Leo again suggests the possibility of transforming the victim into the saviour. So a time when pussy-cats lions get their courage from Oz and belt out an almighty roar. This trine lasts until March 22.

Mars stations direct on April 14. Mars passes over Zosma again May 22 and seals the deal as a result of the brave outburst back on March 12. Mars is also still empowered by a trine from Pluto on ruthless Facies. Mars back on spikey Denebola on June 16 which may bring up a bitter and vindictive backlash from who ever got shafted during the nautical shake-up. But that’s just a blip. At the end of our journey we can all drink Rum punch from the cup of Alkes as Mars says its last goodbyes to 23 Virgo and sails off into the sunset.