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.
Mars Retrograde Dates
A little eye candy from Mars;
http://youtu.be/Gr1169ZsEt0
Michael
I really enjoy your deapth of knowledge on this subject. I hope your version is “Truth and trust worthy”. I am in the midst of a battle for my self expression that started back in November and has esculated right up to January 23, 2012.
This shall be an interesting journey, and I will let you know the outcome; as I am using your version for guidance.
Mars retrograde touching the fixed stars of
Alkes & Sedna has seen direct expression for me re ancestral inheritance via the father. My father has just told me that he is giving my siblings and I some of the money he has reently inherited from a distant relative. This marks the culmination of a family ‘myth’ about my father’s family being done out of a rightful inheritance by a weak father & a wicked stepmother. The money was left to him by the relative expressly to redress this wrong. I am very struck by the timing of this.
getting ready to plant those daring seeds….
A very strong solar flare is heading this way and Mars is also in its path! So our little red retro friend is going to get a little – or big! – kick up his little red bottom!!
Thanks Marina, genuinely insightful, as ever. Like Sarah on Jan 23rd, this is whipping up finances and fathers for me too – well, for my 6 year old son – whose (rather wealthy) father pays for his private education while contributing nothing to the general daily costs of raising him. On Jan 18th I formally requested that he begins to pay his half (I am sinking ever further into debt). It will be most interesting to see whether he decides to contribute or if his son is, figuratively, ‘thrown overboard’.
Interestingly Mars will retrograde over my natal Mars at 16 Vir and Pluto at 14 Vir, both fourth house, while rx through his dad’s 10th with his Pluto at 20.
Excellent! Two phrases come to mind with mars retrograde in virgo: ‘Seperate the wheat from the chaff.’ and ‘Beat your swords into plowshares. Also this is a particularly challenging mars retro since mars spends it’s greatest time retro in virgo and virgo is inconjunct aries by nature emphasizing the need for teachable flexibilty that retrogrades require.
I have mars in the 10th house, in Virgo…how is this current mars retrograde position likely to impact me just now? Also, I have pluto and Uranus (both retrograde) in the same place too. And have the ‘gift’ of a mutable grand cross…phew! Life has been oddly intense, especially this week…really having to deal with issues of power and control and stepping into my own assertive power. Is this a life changing aspect or just part of life’s ongoing opportunity for growth?
Wow, Marina, I have to say thank you again because of a recent turn of events and only your site provides the layers of meaning from Alkes and Sedna to my situation. My father has heart disease and a history of heart attack, so when I felt some strange symptoms on January 22 that seemed to add up to heart attack as opposed to anxiety, I allowed myself to be convinced by a few close people to go to the hospital. I was admitted, all the right tests were done, and all were negative for heart attack. I happen to work for my father. His response was “so there’s nothing wrong with you.” My thought, “well I wouldn’t go that far.” I have never felt my heart do what it did on Sunday. Maybe it is anxiety but if so, then I had better reduce stress. The dates of Mars’ transit through Virgo are really significant too for me regarding the sources of my stress – work and my ex husband (a bully). I am actually considering looking for another job which is a strange idea in this economy but if the inheritance or gift from my father is working in the family business, and the family business is making me so stressed I feel like I am going to die, then I guess it is time for a change.
Mars retro – examine what it aspects and see what actions or restraining of actions might be creating karma. E.g if you have Mars retrograding on Pluto this might bring up reactions or actions from a very primitive base. Emotions or urges triggered then might well be creating more karma. As Marina says, it’s about karmic rebalancing and that is done through choices.
A thread in the “Astroweekly” relates to a theory on the application of musical notes to the Zodiac in a thread on the A.D. Forum titled-”Birth Chart of the Universe”.Some NEW-THINKING to be sure but quite interesting in light of the MARS Rx in process.With the feeling that the state of our reality(maybe the Universe) is in for a big shift & an awareness of the Pluto/Uranus squares coming into play could open up those tuning in to a renewed vision/birth of creation initiated by this ‘ODYSSEY’OF Mars Rx,and i believe it’s return.As it enters Virgo 22(read below) on the 28th,Neptune is on the THRESHOLD of Home(29 Aqu)sext Jupiter(2Tau)Peacock(1 tau)Lilith(4Tau)with Chiron(3Pis)calming the seas ahead as they sext Lilith(4Tau).Gearing up for that G.Trine(March 12th)that Marina likes,with Merc/Sedna/Mars.
In light of all this,in spite of my abandonment(before birth)by my father & the steps-f after,Sedna for me represents the Patriarchal abandonment of the ‘Divine Feminine’and the healing of same through these magical aspects/processes that can fill that chalice with the choices made now
Alkes is so appropriate as the “Holy Grail” as Rhudyar alludes to 22 Virgo below.Moira and I have Pluto at 25 01 Leo 10th(see below) in our composite.A fitting home after the strident lessons of Capricorn in our G.Cross’s
QUOTE:
http://www.astrologyweekly.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19550
The 12 point Matrix is supposed to represent the “True Path of Discipleship’ by some sources [The writings of Dorthy Leon is one]
And if it’s as Rudhyar stated that all paths of discipleship begin in Virgo. This is highly illuminating as the first point that one connects to from 00* 00′ 00.ooo…ooo1″ Aquar. is the point in Virgo in the 22nd degree [ at 21.4285713 degrees Virgo to be percise] when one connects these ‘Dots’ in cycles of 5ths or 7ths.This also correponds to some ancient Mesopotamian or Babylonian [or they could have been Summerian or Assyrian...I'm not sure] bas-reliefs we have seen with a man beneath an arragement of Stars above him in this configuration of seven stars to one side of him and five stars to his other side.
Also the Sabians that are at these points are most interesting if viewed with the hypothesis they represent the “True Path of Discipleship”…as, according to Rudhyar all true paths of discipleship begin in Virgo then one reads the symbol for the 22nd degree of Virgo and proceds to the symbol for the 18th degree of Libra then the 13th degree of Scopio and so forth for a ‘Symbolically Illustrated 12 Step Path of Discipleship” …all in all, pretty far outstuff, I’ll admit…but this theory has got a lot going for it.
Then, by this line of thought the “True Path of Discipleship” begins at Virgo 22*…the symbol for which [from Rudhyars' book] “A ROYAL COAT OF ARMS ENRICHED WITH PRECIOUS STONES. KEYNOTE: The certification of aristocratic status, at whatever level “nobility” expressess itself in cultural eminence. …Every great Adept has come out of a line of human beings who have made their marks upon human evolution….”
…and the “Path” ends with the 26th degree of Leo the symbol for which is {Rudhyar] “AFTER THE HEAVY STORM, A RAINBOW. KEYNOTE: Linking above and below, the Convenant with ones’ divine nature, promise of immortality…we find the man who has been able to weather the cathartic storm face-to-face with his divine Archetype; because he has been victorious, a link has been established with his divine Soul-being…[and Rudhyars’ Keyword{s} for this symbol} …REVELATION OF WORTH”
Michael
…and the “Path” ends with the 26th degree of Leo the symbol for which is {Rudhyar] “AFTER THE HEAVY STORM, A RAINBOW. KEYNOTE: Linking above and below, the Convenant with ones’ divine nature, promise of immortality…we find the man who has been able to weather the cathartic storm face-to-face with his divine Archetype; because he has been victorious, a link has been established with his divine Soul-being…[and Rudhyars’ Keyword{s} for this symbol} …REVELATION OF WORTH”
Michael
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Thank you for the information Michael, really great & very helpful
in trying to understand purpose behind the challenges often presented to us.
[...] | Surtees | Nadia | Tillett | Guy | Aliza | Aliza2 | Dipali | The Strange House | Cafestrology | Marina | Cosmic Potential | And a video! (kind of Martian, not sure if I’ll like it in the end! [...]