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Mars Retrograde

Mars Retrograde

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Author: Alison Price   –   Published: November 2024

Mars Retrograde

During late 2024 and early 2025 the red planet, Mars, is having its retrograde cycle. Mars only retrogrades every second year or around every twenty-six months. This time, Mars will be retrograding across the sign cusp between Cancer and Leo. It will spend 23 weeks in Cancer, and it will spend 16 weeks in Leo in total. These two periods in the signs are broken into two parts. Bearing in mind that typically, Mars will spend six and a half weeks in each sign, but this is when it is moving fast and direct. What this all means is that for most of the time Mars dashes through a sign in around six to seven weeks, but during its retrograde phase, it spends almost four times as much time in one sign or another.

Superior Planet Retrogrades

Sun Aspects

All superior planets start their retrograde periods from around their trine aspect to the Sun. As the Sun moves through the zodiac, about one third of the year later, the retrograde period ends at around the second trine of the planet to the Sun. It is not just the two trines, but also the opposition to the Sun that happens during the retrograde period. All planets past the Earth are retrograde when in opposition to the Sun.

mars-retrograde-bi-wheel

Mars Retrograde Cycles

General

Each Mars retrograde period typically lasts about 60-80 days (roughly 2 to 2.5 months). The time between the start of one Mars retrograde and the next is, on average, 780 days or about 2 years and 50 days. The exact timing can vary slightly due to the elliptical nature of Mars’ orbit. Because of the regularity of planetary orbits, we can predict Mars retrograde periods far into the future and of course you can see this in your ephemeris. Mars takes about 15-17 years to make a complete retrograde cycle through all the signs.

Comparison Cycles

  • Mercury – every 4 months.
  • Venus – every 18 months.
  • Mars – every 26 months.
  • Outer planets – annually.

This relatively infrequent occurrence of Mars retrograde makes each instance super interesting for astrologers.

Mars Retrograde Visibility

Perihelion

Mars will be particularly bright during this period, as it retrogrades when it is closest to the Earth in its orbit. Mars will be prominently visible in the night sky in this position and you can see Mars, as it will be at its brightest and largest now. This means that now you can see Mars at night after the Sun has set and it is showing its face to us as a full-on disk which is great for photography.

mars

Mars Retrograde Themes

Reassessing Actions

This period encourages you to prompt introspection about your choices and behaviors. It’s viewed as a time to step back and evaluate whether current actions align with long-term goals and values.

Rerouting Drives

Mars is often associated with ambition and motivation. During retrograde, there may be a shift in what drives you, potentially leading to new directions in public or personal pursuits.

Reenergizing Projects

Stalled initiatives might gain new life during this time. It is an period to approach ongoing projects with fresh perspectives and renewed enthusiasm.

Recommitting to Actions

This theme suggests a stage of reaffirming commitments. After reassessment, you might find yourself more deeply invested in chosen paths or causes.

Reviewing Competitions

Mars is linked to competitiveness. The retrograde period might prompt a reevaluation of rivalries, competitive strategies, or your approach to challenges.

Releasing Anger

Mars is also associated with aggression and conflict. This time is often seen as a moment to address and let go of pent-up frustrations or resentments.

Replenishing Physical Energy

Given Mars’ association with vitality and physical energy, its retrograde period is sometimes viewed as a time to focus on rest, recovery and rebuilding strength.

Rewarding Winners

This could be interpreted as a time of recognition, where past efforts and achievements are acknowledged and celebrated.

Revising Strategies

It is a good time to reconsider your approach to problem-solving and any long-term planning.

Rekindling Passion

Mars is associated with passion and desire, so this can be seen as a time to reignite enthusiasm in various aspects of life.

Resolving Conflicts

This period is often be viewed as conducive to addressing long-standing disputes or misunderstandings.

Redefining Courage

It could be seen as a time to reassess what bravery means to you on a personal level and how you can embody it.

Revisiting Past Decisions

The retrograde period of Mars might prompt you to review significant choices you have made in areas associated with Mars, such as in your sex life or other relationship decisions.

mars-retrograde-2024

Retrograde Cycle Unfolding

Transits

Each retrograde cycle has the same parts but the planet and the signs the planet transits make all the difference. Let’s have a closer look at this years’ Mars retrograde period.

Mars Enters Pre-shadow

October 7th, 2024

Mars is in Cancer and entered the pre-shadow on October the 7th 2024. You also want to note that Mars is in fall in the sign of cancer. Which is not a very good sign for Mars to be effective in.

Interpretation

As Mars enters the pre shadow, it sets the stage at the first pass of any planet or point from now on. As Mercury makes contact by aspect with planets in your chart, situations will unfold that will then be further explored on the other two passes during the retrograde cycle. Make sure you know exactly which planets Mars is going to contact in your chart and pay close attention to what unfolds on those days.

Mars enters Leo 1st time

November 5th, 2024

Mars will leave Cancer and enter Leo on November the 5th, 2024. The sign of The Lion fits better with Mars than Cancer did not only because it was in fall in Cancer, but because Leo is a fire sign and Mars rules the fire sign of Aries.

Interpretation

As Mars enters the sign Leo, things start to heat up. In general, you can anticipate higher levels of drama and sometimes loud and pushy behavior for most people. If you are a creative person, you are likely to make some wonderful work at this time.

Mars Stations Retrograde

December 6th, 2024

Mars’ retrograde period begins on December 6th as it stations retrograde at six degrees Leo. This is the main part of the retrograde period.

Interpretation

During December, Mars slows down as it reaches the station retrograde. This is the main turning point and indicates the start of the retrograde part of the cycle. Now Mars is going to retrace its steps which started back in October. This is the time when situations that did unfold when Mars was in the shadow return. More information is coming forward and you may have to make adjustments or reassess situations. You are likely to discover new things about situations that you were trying to get into motion. Mars will linger in orb of the station for about 12 days, so from December 1st to December 12th it is in orb of the station.

Station Orbs

Note: For all planets to be in orb of a station, either retrograde or direct, the planet must be within 0°10′ to the exact turning point. This means that the further out the planet is in the solar system, the longer the lingering, and what I like to call the, “loitering with intent” on one particular degree is. This is another reason why transiting outer planets have more oomph than personal planet transits.

Mars Enters Cancer Retrograde

January 6th, 2025

During January, Mars still retrograde, will pass from Leo into Cancer thus once more into the sign of its fall, The Crab.

Interpretation

Part of the way through Mars’ retrograde path it reverts back into Cancer. Here there is a shift of energy from boisterous and outgoing Leo back to a more receptive Cancer and the Martian activities are likely to be either withdrawn or held back in some way.

Mars Stations Direct

February 24th, 2025

During February, Mars will make its station direct at 17° Cancer. This means that it has transited back in Cancer from 29° all the way back to 17° before it stops, stations and reverses its movement. From this point on, Mars is moving direct, and the retrograde part of the cycle has actually finished. Again, Mars will linger in orb of the station for about 12 days so from between February 18th to March 1st it is in orb of the station.

Interpretation

Towards the end of February, Mars once more starts to slow down as it comes towards the station direct. Now Mars will start to move forward again as it makes the third pass to any of the aspects that it made earlier in the first direct and the second retrograde pass. Now as Mars comes through, the final outcomes of activities or events that were started during this retrograde period are likely to be finalized. As Mars makes its final and 3rd aspect, the activities and actions which were brought to life will be cemented and firmed up now. If you were wondering about taking a particular course of action, this will be the moment, when the final decision will be made.

Mars Enters Leo Direct 2nd time

April 18th, 2025

When we get to April, Mars will enter Leo for the second time as it continues to move direct.

Interpretation

Mars again enters Leo during mid-April and shakes off any passive feelings to create something colourful, exciting and new in Leo. Projects that you have given birth to will flourish now.

Mars Leaves the After Shadow

May 3rd, 2025

Finally, on May 3rd, 2025, Mars will leave the after-shadow of this retrograde periodand it’s all over bar the shouting.

Phew!

Who This Will Affect

Birthdays

This Mars retrograde period will affect anyone whose birthday is from July 10th to July 30th.

Conjunctions

This particular Mars retrograde period will affect anybody, by conjunction, who has planets or points between 17° Cancer and 6° Leo. With the conjunction, transiting Mars will energize the planet or point and galvanize it into action.

Oppositions

It will give a triple hit opposition to any person with planets or points between 17° Capricorn and 6° Aquarius. With the opposition, transiting Mars will generate outward challenges and competition with the planet or point.

Squares

It will give a triple hit square aspect to anyone with planets or points from 17° Aries to 6° Taurus or between 17° Libra and 6° Scorpio. With the square, transiting Mars will create inner tension or frustration with the planet or point.

My Chart

For myself, this Mars retrograde will crossover my Ascendant at 4° Leo for a 3-hit conjunction. I’m kind of looking forward to it as I’m hoping that transiting Mars is going to spur me into more activity in my exercise regime plan to tone, strengthen and energize my body.

Retrograde Extras

Articles

Here are a few more articles on retrograde planets.

mars-retrograde

Overview

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Author Bio

Alison Price: Professional Astrologer

Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.

If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email at starzology@gmail.com.

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Artists Charts: Venus and Neptune

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Retrograde Planets

Retrograde Planets

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Author: Alison Price   –   Published: May 2021   –   Revised: March 2024

Retrograde Motion

Let’s have a look at retrograde planets.

Retrograde motion is a phenomenon that occurs due to our vantage point here on Earth when we look at the planets in our Solar system.

When astrologers use the term retrograde, they are referring to apparent retrograde motion. Definition: To go or to seem to go backwards, to become worse or to decline.

In a chart a retrograde planet has the letters or symbol “Rx” next to their glyph and degrees. In some charts the planet and degrees are written in red to indicate the planet is retrograde.

A planet that is retrograde is seemingly moving backwards but it is that the Earth is moving forward swifter than the planet in question. There may be several retrograde planets in each chart or there may be no retrograde planets, it depends on the chart.

Astronomy of Retrogradation

Retrograde motion affects all the planets with the exception of the Sun and Moon. The luminaries are always direct and never retrograde. 

When a planet is retrograde it is closer to the Earth than at other times. 

As an outer planet draws towards the opposition to the Sun, it becomes well placed for viewing through a telescope, as the full light of the Sun is on the planet.

Station Retrograde and Station direct

In a birth chart, the station retrograde, and station direct points are marked with an “S” symbol for stationary. 

Typically, planets are considered to be stationary when they are within an orb of 0°10’ of the station. The orb depends on the aspect set settings in your computer program. 

The slower the planet, the longer it lingers in the orb of the station.

How Retrograde Periods are Shown in an Ephemeris

In an ephemeris all retrograde periods are indicated by a capital “R” and are shaded.
When the retrograde period is complete a capital “D” for direct is printed.

Retrograde Interpretation

Retrograde Planet Expression

A retrograde planet in a natal chart is retracing its steps over the same degree and minutes of the zodiac as it passed before birth. 

The planet would have crossed that spot in the zodiac previously (moving direct) and is now retrograding back over a previously passed area of the sign. It is going back over what has gone before and symbolically this imparts a reduced energy flow to the planet.

Retrograde motion is as if you are jogging down the road quite confidently, and then you realize you dropped your keys, so you stop and walk backwards looking for them, then pick them up and then once again start to jog forwards again. This shows that retrograde motion is much slower than direct motion.

Reduced expression of the planet

The state of being retrograde appears to change a planet from its natural urges and direction and cause it to manifest effects similar to its opposite planetary pair attributes such as; Venus and Mars (female/male), and Jupiter and Saturn (expand/contract).

The Sign of the Retrograde

The sign in which the planet retrogrades needs to be considered. A planet may sometimes retrograde over one or two signs.

A Retrograde Sign Ruler

When a retrograde planet in a birth chart rules a sign, it takes momentum from that sign and makes it harder for that planet to rule the sign in a confident way. 

Any planets in a sign ruled by a retrograde planet may show their own urges more so than the sign placement may indicate.

A Retrograde House Ruler

When a retrograde planet in a birth chart rules a house, the affairs of that house may initially be thwarted and held in abeyance until later in life when the retrograde planet stations direct by progression.

 

Sun and Moon Retrograde

This is a joke so do not get caught. The Sun and Moon are never retrograde! To say someone has a retrograde Sun is an old astrology joke.

Retrograde Motion Cycle

Normally a planet which is direct moves along at a regular pace. As planets approach their retrograde period their movement changes in the following way:

 

  • The planet enters its pre-shadow period. This is at the point where it will station direct later in the retrograde cycle.
  • The planet slows down.
  • The planet appears to stop, and this is the station retrograde.
  • The planet begins to move retrograde at a slower speed than when direct.
  • After a few weeks or months, the planet slows down again.
  • The planet appears to stop at the station direct.
  • The planet begins to move direct again and gets back up to speed in its after-shadow period.
  • The planet leaves the shadow period at the point of the original station retrograde point.

Retrograde Motion Sequence

  • Direct motion (D) enters the shadow
  • Stations retrograde (SRx or S)
  • Retrograde motion (Rx)
  • Stations direct (SD or S)
  • Direct motion (D) still in the shadow, but leaves

Retrograde Period

In each retrograde period a planet will make its two stations at particular degrees and minutes of the zodiac. Each retrograde period will cover a different part of the zodiac and will last for a varying amount of time.

The Shadow

The section of the zodiac where the planet will retrograde is known as the shadow period. The planet enters the pre-shadow or shadow, moving direct, before the actual retrograde period starts. 

After the retrograde period at the point when the planet stations direct, the planet remains in the after-shadow or shadow, moving direct, until the planet passes the original station retrograde point again.

The Inferior Planets Retrograde

The pattern for the inferior planets when retrograde is specific. In the diagram the Sun is in the center. The orbit of either Mercury or Venus is shown in the next circle out. The Earth’s orbit is shown by the outer circle.

 

Diagram

It is only as the inferior planets move into the most westerly and most easterly position that the retrograde cycle starts. Positions 1 and 3 show the station retrograde and the station direct respectively.

Sun Conjunctions

During a retrograde cycle there are three conjunctions to the Sun. The first direct pass, the retrograde conjunction, and the final direct conjunction with the Sun.

Retrograde Time Period

The time in days for the retrograde period depends on the positions of the inferior planets and the earth and how far each body is from the Sun. This is why each retrograde period may be slightly longer or shorter than the previous one.

Mercury Retrograde

Mercury is probably the most well-known retrograde planet where it is even common knowledge outside astrological circles. Mercury is usually retrograde for three weeks and about three times a year or every four months. In any one year Mercury will typically retrograde in the same elementthen the retrograde period shifts into another element.

Mercury Retrograde Keywords

  • Suggests a hesitation in learning and school life
  • Indicates that learning to read and write may be slower
  • Considers thoroughly before contracting or speaking
  • Rehearses to eliminate imperfect speech

Mercury rules the nervous system delivering messages to and from the brain.

Mercury Retrograde Morning Planet

  • Quiet and retiring.
  • Reviews and weighs all angles before speaking.
  • Deep thinker and someone who contemplates.
  • Reviews information and files for the future.

Mercury Retrograde Evening Planet

  • Halting speech and may lisp or stutter
  • Shy
  • Nervous
  • Ultimately accomplished in education.

Venus Retrograde

Venus is retrograde about every eighteen months for about forty days (six weeks). Venus’s retrograde motion begins when she is one sign ahead of the Sun, and direct motion resumes when she is one sign behind the Sun. Venus rules the feminine principle and is a receiver of both material goods and love.

  • Suggests a hesitancy in giving and receiving love
  • Indicates time is needed to appreciate money
  • Seems like another Mars
  • Ability to acquire material possessions
  • Early in life financial reversals, then acquires financial savvy
  • May be tactless and rude, learns social skills the hard way

Venus Retrograde as Morning Planet

  • The urge to connect
  • Sensitive and easily hurt
  • Financially careful

 

Venus Retrograde Evening Planet

  • Beauty is appreciated later
  • Wealth growth later in life

 

The Superior Planets Retrograde

The superior planets have their obits outside that of the Earth’s. They are the planets from Mars to Pluto. The superior planets are retrograde every year except Mars, which is on an almost two year retrograde cycle. 

The superior planets begin their retrograde periods when they are near the trine to the Sun. Whilst the Sun travels the four months (i.e. one third of the chart) towards the next trine, the superior planets are retrograde. Around the point when the Sun passes the perfect to the trine to a superior planet, the superior planet again begins direct motion. When a superior planet is in opposition to the Sun it is always retrograde.

Mars Retrograde

Mars is retrograde every twenty-two months for about eleven weeks. This means it is retrograde about every second year.

Mars Retrograde Interpretation

Suggests a hesitancy in assertive matters. The individual is likely to retain anger inside.

Jupiter Retrograde

Jupiter is retrograde for around four months and direct for around nine months every year.

Interpretation

  • Suggests a hesitancy in vision, expansion, and philosophy.
  • The ability to build bridges is reduced.

Saturn Retrograde

Saturn is retrograde for about four and a half months each year.

Interpretation

  • Suggests a hesitancy in establishing boundaries, and limitations.
  • Indicates that maintaining boundaries is reduced.

Uranus Retrograde

Uranus is retrograde for about five months each year.

Interpretation

  • Suggests a hesitancy in expressing uniqueness and original ideas.
  • The urge to step outside the norm is reduced.

Neptune Retrograde

Neptune is retrograde about six months every year.

Interpretation

  • When Neptune is retrograde it suggests a hesitancy in sleep patterns and dreams.
  • The urge to be artistic is reduced.

Pluto Retrograde

Pluto is retrograde for about six months each year.

Interpretation

  • Suggests a hesitancy in establishing a personal power base.
  • The urge to purge the unwanted is reduced.

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Aspiring Astrologer Activity: Retrogrades

In your astrology journal please do the following:

  • Name two types of planetary station.
  • State how a the retrograde period shown in an ephemeris.
  • Note at what two points in the retrograde cycle a planet enters and leave its shadow period.
  • Name any planets that are never retrograde.
  • Note how often Mercury goes retrograde each year.
  • Name which planet is generally retrograde every second year.
  • Note which planet has the shortest retrograde periods.
  • Name the typical aspect at which the superior planets go retrograde.

Referring to your chart, please do the following:

  • Note which planets are retrograde.
  • Note if any planets are stationary.
  • Decide if  you have a retrograde chart ruler.
  • Write out all your retrograde planet complex’s using astrological short form code.

Extend Yourself

  • Choose one planet that is retrograde and suggest how it may have manifested in your life (100 words).

Extend Yourself Further

  • Choose one retrograde planet and interpret it fully (500 words).
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Author Bio

Alison Price: Astrology Coach

Alison wants to help you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor.

Learn more about Alison’s journey.

If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email at starzology@gmail.com.

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Artists Charts: Venus and Neptune

Artists Charts: Venus and Neptune

Author: Alison Price   -   Updated: March 2025 Artists Charts I'm not just an astrologer, but I consider myself as a hobby artist and crafter as well. Being creative and expressing yourself (and myself) through art is a great interest of mine.   Art in a Chart When I...