Mars Retrograde
Mars stationed retrograde this week on December 7 and lasts until February 24, 2025.
This is a pretty big deal.
Mercury retrogrades 3-4 times a year. The outer planets (Saturn through Pluto) retrograde once a year. But Mars… he only retrogrades once every 2 years.
So when he does, we need to pay attention.
If you have started feeling burned out, low in energy, or just confused about what you want to be working towards next, you’ve already tuned into the effects of Mars retrograde (yep, we can feel it in it’s “pre-shadow” phase!).
Mars is the planet that is associated with drive, energy, and motivation, so when it is retrograde those areas become in focus and what you’re reflecting on more than usual.
First, the details.
Mars is in Leo, and stationed retrograde at 6º Leo. He will move back through the early degrees of Leo, re-enter Cancer, and finish his retrograde at 17º Cancer.
Mars keywords include: drive, motivation, anger, sex, fuel, passion, leadership, authority, initiation, and action.
As mentioned, Mars only retrogrades every 2 years which is why all the astrologers on your feed are talking about it! To be exact, it's been 2 years and 2 months since the last one.
We’re definitely getting off to a slow start in 2025.
Let’s get into some facts on what you need to know about it for the next couple of months.
Once Mars is retrograde (now!) you enter into a period of seriously slowing down. You may already have begun to feel confused or frustrated about something in your life, depending on what house or planets Mars is transiting in your chart (we’ll get to that soon).
You could feel burned out and uncertain about what comes next and it could feel like efforts to do something different or initiate a new project or direction could be slow to take place. Frustration and anger is Mars-associated so don’t be surprised here.
I feel like Mars retrograde affects career much more than other retrogrades do, because what you do for work has a lot to do with motivation and where you’re putting your energy. Plus a lot more people are combining their passions (Mars) with their career these days. But I also have a 10th house Mars so maybe that’s it’s influence talking.
With Mars Rx you are being asked to reconsider truly motivates and fuels you. What is the most effective use of your energy? What passions are you driven towards? And what it is that gets you up and going each day?
Because Mars also represents anger and frustration, you may have stronger emotions come up during this time. The retrograde is a really good time to identify ways in which you’d like to react differently to conflict.
You won’t be able to sweep your frustrations under the rug as easily during this period, and that’s sometimes a good thing. Sometimes we need a little push to speak up about our feelings or a situation in life!
Mars retrograde is bringing a wake-up call to us all. We’ll feel a strong need to re-examine our goals and motivations. This transit can create a strong sense of urgency, where we are compelled to take action.
With Mercury retrograde there is an emphasis on what NOT to do. But Mars will remain fully visible under the Sun during his retrograde, so instead of retreating into the Sun’s glare (like Mercury would), he is INTENSIFYING.
So we can - and should - still take action (Mars) but j just do so with intention. Even though you may notice a slowing down in your energy, motivation and projects or events, they may actually drive you to take action more forcefully.
Mars retrograde’s ultimate goal is to help you uncover what really drives you – what makes you say, “I want this so badly, I’ll do anything to get it.”
Leo vs Cancer:
Mars starts its retrograde journey in Leo (at 6°) and ends it in Cancer (at 17°).
Archetypally, Cancer represents the child in need of nurturing and support, while Leo symbolises the empowered child who has become an individual, ready to self-express with confidence.
A safe, well-cared-for child (Cancer) eventually grows into a confident and expressive Leo. Ideally!
But as many of us know, we have residual wounds and vulnerabilities (Cancer) that we carry into adulthood. When we come to terms with our vulnerabilities, we naturally find the courage to reveal and shine our true selves to the world.
This suggests there are lessons to be learned from the retrograde transition from Cancer to Leo.
My astrology mentor said “behaviours like selfishness, arrogance, or standoffishness – traits associated with an overemphasised Leo – may actually stem from unresolved Cancer wounds, such as deep-seated insecurity, unmet emotional needs, or a lack of foundational nurturing” - and this retrograde is an invitation to address them.
Where do you need to nurture yourself more? What unaddressed vulnerabilities of your inner child are rising to the surface?
Sometimes it’s helpful to look back at what took place for you during the past Mars retrogrades.
The last one was in Nov 2022-Jan 2023 as he retrograded through Gemini.
But the most recent retrograde that will bear similarities to the one that we are entering into now would be the Mars retrograde across the signs of Aquarius and Capricorn from June - August 2018. This is because Aquarius and Capricorn are opposite to Leo and Cancer, so that retrograde would have aspected similar placements in your chart.
And if you’re old enough, or have a good-enough memory, the last time a Mars retrograde was in Leo was December 2009 - March 2010, and the last time it happened in Cancer was November 2007 - January 2008.
Look back at all those dates above and and see if you can certain patterns that are reemerging. This may help you understand what specifically to expect this time around.
Also, early degree fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius (around 0-8 degrees) and late degree cardinal signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn (around 15-29 degrees) placements will be impacted the most.
If you have any planets or angles right at 6º of a fixed sign or right at 17º of a cardinal sign, you will feel this retrograde pretty intensely!
If that applies to your chart, you might be having a bit of an identity crisis right now, or you could feel very uncertain or burned out. It depends on the planet impacted.
Above is my chart (this time in whole sign houses for clarity). The planets in the outer-wheel are the transits.
I have a 6º Aquarius Moon, so Mars stationing retrograde at 6º Leo is in exact opposition to my Moon. I also have a 10º Cancer Sun so when Mars moves forward again it’s in a loose conjunction to my Sun. It'll also be trining my natal Mars in Pisces for pretty much the whole retrograde.
The Sun and Moon and the identity archetypes and reflect our core personality.
I could very well feel like I’m going through a bigger transformation or change in your life that is unfolding over a several month long period. My emotions and self-nurturing (Moon) and identity and purpose (Sun) will really be impacted and in focus for me.
So just remember, the themes associated with that planet or angle (if you have any), as well as themes that pertain to the other house(s) that planet rules in your chart will be brought up as well.
What I mean by that is 9th house themes (or 8th house in Placidus) will also come to focus during this retrograde as it's where my Moon is.
For everyone though, you have a house ruled by Cancer in your chart, as well as a house ruled by Leo. Mars retrograde will be moving through those two houses, and will urge you to take stock in these 2 different areas. Those two parts of your life will require a lot more energy and focus than they usually would. It may feel like everything in your life is centred around these house themes for then next few months.
In another example, the person below has the Mars retrograde happening entirely in their 5th house (Placidus). It could manifest in various ways depending on the stage of life the person is in. Perhaps they might be going through a frustrating period of dating (5th house theme), and the retrograde is asking them to build greater confidence in themselves first. Or to redirect their energy into a passion project, or a fun hobby (5th house theme) which will in turn help them learn to creatively express themselves (Leo). Maybe they've just had a baby (5th house theme) and are dealing with the challenges that brings to balancing their individual desires (Mars) with time dedicated to nurturing a newborn (Cancer).
Or if someone has the Mars retrograde affecting their 6th (Cancer) and 7th (Leo) houses, they may be finding better ways to balance work (6H) with their relationship (7H). Or they may be feel dissatisfied at work right nw with delays or low motivation for projects (6H). Transit Mars is also opposing their Moon Neptune conjunction so they would also want to consider that.
These are just some examples to help you understand how it plays out!
It’s important to note that any themes that are coming up super strongly with the Mars retrograde cycle will not get fully resolved or come full circle until Mars returns to 6º of Leo - where he began his retrograde.
Okay, we also need to talk about Pluto.
As you likely know Pluto just entered Aquarius where he is sitting at 2º. Pluto is considered the higher octave of Mars, and it’s 6-month opposition to Mars is a key feature of this retrograde cycle. It’s unusually long and definitely needs paying attention to!
With Mars, he wants what he wants and will get it in his own way - often directly and decisively. Mars is our personal will, our instinct to act, assert and furiously pursue what we desire! But Pluto is the collective will. I practice psychological astrology, and within that Pluto represents what’s hidden and unacknowledged, and because it’s hidden and unacknowledged, it holds power over us.
Mars opposite Pluto can lead to a battle of wills. Power struggles, issues around control, and themes of transformation are all coming forward. We will – consciously or unconsciously – attract situations that seem impossible and thoroughly test us.
The opposition aspect is our psyche’s way of surfacing unconscious conflicts by projecting them onto others or external situations. The things that trigger you and make you angry during this retrograde are really important to be aware of and transformed (Pluto). Keep in mind the Leo (unique self expression) and Cancer (emotional needs) themes here.
One date that's important to note is when Mars retrograde enters its opposition with the Sun. You could receive a lot of clarity, and reach a pivotal turning point in the themes of your Leo and Cancer ruled houses.
Also pay attention to these dates and note any shifts, urges, breakthroughs, or major events.
October 5th, 2024: Mars enters pre-shadow phase at 17° Cancer
November 3rd, 2024: Mars opposite Pluto at 29° Cancer/Capricorn
December 7th, 2024: Mars goes retrograde at 6° Leo
January 3rd, 2025: Mars opposite Pluto at 1° Leo/Aquarius
January 6th, 2025: Mars re-enters Cancer
January 16th, 2025: Mars opposite Sun
February 24th, 2025: Mars goes direct at 17° Cancer
April 27th, 2025: Mars opposite Pluto at 3° Leo/Aquarius
May 2nd, 2025: Mars leaves shadow at 6° Leo
My advice for Mars retrograde is below:
First, identify the Cancer and Leo houses of your chart. Note down their themes.
Next, look for any placements around 6º of a fixed sign or 17º of a cardinal sign. You can use the aspect orbs I wrote of earlier - the closer the more intense.
Note down those planets archetypes and associations.
Keep this info in mind over the next few months. Reflect often.
Keep a record (journal) of your experience with this Mars retrograde. Also reflect back on the previous ones I mentioned above. Going through photos or old journal can help with this!
Most of all, do NOT fear this transit. It's part of a bigger cycle b between the Sun and Mars that is helping you to reshape a certain area of your life.
Below are the houses that Mars will be retrograding based on your rising sign:
Aries: 5th and 4th
Taurus: 4th and 3rd
Gemini: 3rd and 2nd
Cancer: 2nd and 1st
Leo: 1st and 12th
Virgo: 12th and 11th
Libra: 11th and 10th
Scorpio: 10th and 9th
Sagittarius: 9th and 8th
Capricorn: 8th and 7th
Aquarius: 7th and 6th
Pisces: 6th and 5th
