“What a retrograde planet needs is a good obsession. I have repeatedly found that the frustration engendered by a retrograde planet is primarily due to the person’s lack of interest in something that drives and compels.”
– Erin Sullivan
The Month of Mars
Mars represents our vital force, our competitive edge, and our sexual drive. Every two years and two months, Mars goes retrograde for eleven weeks, causing much disruption in our routines and habits. When Mars stations retrograde, there’s a collective cessation of drive, focus, and energy to what previously we felt was what we wanted.
We hit the doldrums after feeling as if the wind was really beneath our sails, and we were close to reaching our destination. These doldrums can last from when Mars stations retrograde (September 9) until it passes beyond the degree in which it turned retrograde at 28 Aries, which will be the first week of January 2021.
Take heart, as we still need to press on, but not without a change of perspective and attitude on how we manage our energies. Some things will need to be postponed; others will be up for revision on the moral and ethical reasons why we wanted to do them in the first place. The inner battle that occurs during a Mars retrograde is really about what our Ego still wants to be done, and what the Self wants.
Give your Mars something to focus on
Unresolved conflicts swept under the rug come up for revision, and in exact Mars characteristics, we are called to take courageous steps towards facing things that are coming back for reflection, review, and resolution. Because it’s Mars, it’s often issues around frustration, anger, resentment, misuse of power and force, and hostility; none of the emotions that are invited to civil cocktail parties. Collectively we are facing the hooligans we’ve locked up in the closet and are now demanding attention. When faced with these issues, take a deep breath and remember that there’s always a purpose for the disruption.
The healing aspect of this is that folks are called to battle against oppressive situations, both inner and outer. Mars retrograde makes what has been festering take center stage, and we can cry out ‘enough is enough.’ At times explosions need to happen to release all the pent-up frustration, but that is always the energy to be healed and integrated in a new way. This may be a time where our powers may be physically and psychologically depleted, affecting corrosively our Ego, but helping ourSelf release what has been festering and polluting our individual and collective psyche.
However, take heart that during Mars retrograde, we may feel a profound lack of interest towards that which we thought we cared for so much. But this is the time that we can use to relinquish, although hard, projects, attitudes, goals that we once cherished, that are now outmoded for our evolution.
Note for care. During the Mars retrograde phase, take extra care of your health, as cumulative stress may lower further our immune system, and our body gives into burnout. Revise your exercise routine and focus more on yin activities that nurture the yang aspect of your habits. By the end of this phase, you will feel renewed.
