On June 28th Mars moves into Aries, after being retrograde in the confusing waters of Pisces, where we feel we don’t know where to go or what goal to take action towards. There is a lot of warrior energy this year… September 9th is when Mars retrogrades. The energies of Mars turns inwards and reflects. An old identity karma must be overcome.

Right now, we are fighting for our basic needs.

Mars leaves Aries, its home sign, on January 7th of 2021! It will conjuncts Taurus, where he winds down and loses his edge. But in the meantime, Mars in the first fire sign gives a lot of dedicated energy to improving one’s life circumstances. However, the willpower can focus too much on the self, neglecting the needs of others (Libra polarity). This attitude is already far too prevalent these days — sadly.

Mars in Aries will last around 7 months.

Mars is all about fighting and defending our kingdom (life) from aggressors or usurpers. It gives the energy to draw the line and say no when a boundary is crossed. It’s the primal and passionate part of our psyche that gets triggered when someone commits an action that runs roughshod over how we think things should be.

The kingdom can be whatever you cherish in life, where your heart is: your body, home, finances, family, career or creative project. It’s about training and pushing one’s self forward through obstacles that come when we involve ourselves with these things. A strong Mars will give us the necessary grit and power to overcome hardship in life. In Aries, it makes us feel that we have to fight ALONE; nobody is calling for backup and we are here to face the challenges that arise from within ourselves, and those which are reflected back to us by other people.

From June 28th – July 23rd:

The energy of Mars will focus on developing the courage to let go of fears and thoughts of failure, and embrace bold action to start moving towards healing (Chiron) and breaking away from escapism and delusion (Neptune).

From July 24th – August 27th:

The energy focuses on fighting to preserve what brings pleasure and satisfaction on the path towards a greater future. We must move past the pains of our bruised ego and identity. It’s time to draw clear and distinct boundaries and fight for what we love.

From September 9th – November 13th: Mars Retrogrades and Squares Saturn

We start getting mixed signals. We want to act and move forward, yet we’re afraid, blocked off.

I’m not going to sugar coat it. This is a rough transit. Two malefic planets at odds with one another. Mars wants to GO. Saturn wants to stop and reflect. The retrograde occurs right as Moon and Rahu conjoin in Gemini. Times are crazy now. The collective mind will be incredibly chaotic and filled to the brim with nervousness and anxiety (mutable signs). There is an overload of information for the senses.

This is when the energy of Mars that has previously been so outward oriented throughout the better part of the year, finally turns inward and reflects, getting closer to Earth. We may need to stop before we burn down everything in our path. We need to start taking better care of ourselves at this point and discern what has to be cut out of our lives. Bad habits and self-destructive mindsets are first on the list.

The retrograde Mars sits in the 8th house from the Sun in Virgo, where our health and personal healing becomes illuminated. The 8th is a house of transformation and change. We can really get anxious to start acting on bettering our health and making sure we do everything in our power to get exercise and get moving (daily physical movement). Since it squares Saturn, fear might motivate us to change it up.

We might feel restricted from being able to act as freely as we once did. But, all in all, this is a great time for purification, of the body and of the spirit. It’s time to toughen up, roll up our sleeves and get to work on bettering our lives. This often involves dealing with messy and frustrating details, as well as making sure our schedule is organized and effective.

This retrograde happens in the last quarter of the Virgo new moon cycle. The Moon joins with the North Node, activating all the mutable signs to discover new avenues of nourishment through experimentation and discovery. The energies that are calling for purification, getting your life in order and developing healthy and balanced interactions with other people, are also requiring that we take it easy with our physicality and the mounting pressure we place on ourselves to perform. Do not push yourself, but start taking time to reflect on your deepest passions and desires. Where are you really headed in life? Don’t lose your head and keep your cool whenever possible. There are plenty of triggers out there right now…as you well know!

From August 28th – January 7th:

This is when the energy really amps up and we seek to use our aggression to destroy what makes us weak and to eliminate the impurities within us so that we can transform into something greater. The truth of fire burns out impurities. It awakens and breaks things apart. Step out and lead the charge towards embracing a higher level of awareness with our values. You have the lantern to see a more glorious future now. Mars is moving towards Uranus in Taurus, like prometheus carrying the torch to be passed unto the masses. We will come to a time when the masses will take what they want (Mars) because their fundamental needs (Taurus) aren’t being met.

Mars in Aries is the 5th sign from the South Nodes position, but in the 11th sign from the North Node Position.

It shows that we stand to gain more energy and power to cut through illusion and to ascend to greater plateaus in life by letting go of prejudices, false beliefs and corrupted knowledge. We gain more courage through developing an understanding of how our world truly works. We have the personal power to fight for change in life, and win, despite the massive odds against us. Mars bestows this ability. It has the warrior’s strength when transiting through Aries.

Mars Retrograde with the Solar Cycles

September: Mars in 8th Sun in Virgo

We’re using our energy to transform our health and how we approach our daily responsibilities in the world.

October: Mars Opposed Sun in Libra

We must balance out the relationship of our individual identity and anger in a productive manner. It’s like a see-saw. Too much Mars or too much Sun. Mars, being in the opposite sign from the Sun, is fading away from the king’s view, losing energy and guidance. What does a soldier do when the king isn’t looking? It depends on his nature.

November: Mars in 6th House Sun in Scorpio

This is where we use our energy to battle through the fixed emotional obstacles in our psyche. We will see opportunities arise to cut apart obstructions that bar our chances at intimacy and seeing the truth beneath the surface of it all.