Mars Retrograde
Mars is the fourth planet in our solar system and represents all things action and aggression. Retrograde is when a planet appears to be moving backwards in the sky. It can take anywhere from two weeks to two months for Mars to go through this retrograde phase, and even if it doesn’t affect you directly, you can definitely see the astrological phenomenon around.
Mars Facts
Mars will start retrograde on October 30th, 2022 at 9:21 am EST. When Mars is in retrograde, it is a good time to slow down and take a break, because the fiery energy can be too much for some people so expect to feel a little more tired than usual; or if you’re lucky, have more energy. Mars is the planet of action and it is the ruler of Aries. It has a fiery nature that governs our drive to take action. Mars retrograde can make us feel restless and impulsive.
Mars retrograde which will be stationed (appear to stop) on January 12th, 2023 but will have a shadow period that will continue until March 15th, 2023. It is a time when we must be careful, as we may misread people’s actions or words as being more aggressive than they are. This is because Mars represents our animal instincts and when it goes retrograde, it can make us feel restless and impulsive, causing us to react more impulsively than usual. When Mars is retrograde, it can cause us to misinterpret a person’s actions as being aggressive and potentially dangerous. For example, if you are walking down the street and see someone trip in a driveway, you might think that they’re deliberately attacking the person who owns the driveway. However, if it turns out that the person who tripped was trying to avoid stepping on a cat or dog poop then you have misjudged their actions.
How Will Mars Affect The Houses?
Mars is the planet of assertiveness, anger and war. It’s also the ruling planet of Aries and traditionally Scorpio; Mars also really likes (exalted) Capricorn. That doesn’t mean that those are the only signs that could become affected by this retrograde. The best way to tell is by looking at your natal chart to see where Mars sits. The house where Mars is located, is where you’ll be tested most.
For example, if your Mars is in Taurus in the 10th house, then you’ll notice that your career will be affected during this retrograde. Meaning, you could become more practical or if you were to look to Venus, since Venus rules Taurus and she’s sitting in the 2nd house, which could mean you need to find a new appreciation for your job or decide you hate your job. Maybe you’ll find your true career path during this retrograde or you’ll become more materialistic; it depends on the aspects of the planets. Ultimately, Mars can be a tiring planet because of its intense and heated energy, so this could mean that there will be a time when your energy levels are low, and will feel less confident and more irritable than usual.
It is important to take care of yourself during this time and not over-commit or take on too much responsibility because you might not have the energy to see it through.
Mars retrograde only happens for about two weeks every year, and it can make changes seem linear when they are actually not. So, look to see how your habits are to see what the trends are, so that you can prepare yourself. Worse case, Mars represents violence, so be careful and always be alert especially during the height of this time period; which will be around the end of November, the beginning of December. Mars also represents sex and sex drive, which can increase or decrease.
Things To Avoid For This Retrograde
The following are some things you can do during Mars retrograde to avoid getting into any accidents or making any impulsive decisions:
- Avoid starting anything new, especially if it has been on your list for a while. If you must start something new, make sure that you finish something else first.
- Avoid making big changes in your life, especially major purchases or career changes.
- Avoid making any impulse purchases.
- Avoid arguments with loved ones.
- Stay away from confrontations and try not to be too competitive with others in sports, games, or business dealings.
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