Mars Retrograde In Virgo

Mars, our planet of desire, energy, vitality, and passion, went retrograde Monday, January 23, 2012 (Retrograde dates: January 23, 2012 – April 13, 2012).

What does this mean for you? Let's explore the energy of Mars.

Mars is our planet of power, strength, courage, and aggression. Mars measures our ability to project force, passion, and personal will into our lives. A strong Mars is necessary to give us the independence, self-confidence, and motivation to carry out our unique ideas into the world. On the other hand, however, Mars can bring out aggression, competition, arguments, and conflict on the opposing side. On this note, Mars has been known as the God of War. 

Mars is the planetary energy connected to action. Yet, it is not just action for action's sake, and it is goal-oriented action.  Without Mars, we would never get anything done.

When Mars goes retrograde, it appears to go backward in the sky. This retrograde can cause the same type of feeling for us down here on earth. It is because retrogrades reverse the energy of a planet, and the retrograde planet has an internalizing effect on our energy. 

What happens with Mars during its retrograde phase is that we may have wanted things to happen outside, but now we will need to commit to changing and rethinking stuff on the inside during this retrograde. 

For example, If you want your boss to be nicer to you and you have been trying to will them to change, you will need to internalize that desire and be nicer to yourself. If you have wanted your partner to do things for you, maybe now you will do those things for yourself without waiting for your partner to do them. That’s is awesome!

Internalizing our will and energy (Mars Retrograde) looks like doing and accomplishing things for ourselves. We may have been wanting someone else to do those things for us, or we may have been thinking we can change the other person to do the things we want them to do, but now under the energy of this cycle, we must do it ourselves. 

This isn't a cycle about willing others to do the things we want them to, and it is about asking yourself how you can internalize what you want and get the result you want from inside yourself. This cycle is a powerful time of self-reflection, self-analysis, and internalization.

Where will the Mars Retrograde Cycle be happening for you?

Mars will be retrograde in one of the 12 houses of your astrological chart. So by looking at your chart, we can tell what area of your life you will experience this retrograde cycle.

Here is a brief description of what each of the houses represents. If you know your rising sign, I have put that sign in bold letters under each area to help you locate the houses where the retrograde cycle is. If you are using your Western chart, the ascendant is listed; first, your Vedic chart ascendant is listed second. 

1st House – This is the house of the Self. This house represents your physical body, traits, and characteristics. This retrograde is about internalizing what you want from yourself. Start planning an activity you want to do personally to fulfill your desires or your Dharma or purpose. You have a purpose in life. Find out what that is by going into yourself. What gives you energy? What is YOUR purpose? 

Virgo ascendant on your Western Chart 

Leo ascendant on your Vedic Chart

2nd house – The second house is about your self-worth, your income, and looking at what you have or possess. It is now time to internalize what you value regarding your finances. Reflect on what belongs only and specifically to you. Be mindful and decisive about how you love yourself, and accumulate what you want. Buy something YOU like. 

Leo ascendant on your Western Chart

Cancer ascendant on your Vedic Chart

3rd house – This house is about communication and education. What do you want to say? Write it down. It is now time to reflect and internalize your communication abilities to express your ideas and opinions better. What do you need to say to yourself about what you want in life? What do you want to say? 

Cancer ascendant on your Western Chart

Gemini ascendant on your Vedic Chart

4th house – This is your home, and your inner foundation, your spirituality. Internalizing your home may be the right thing to do right now. Be mindful of what your home expresses to you about who you are on the inside. Reflect on what you feel and find ways to communicate what you want from the deepest part of who you are and your feelings. 

Gemini ascendant fon your Western Chart

Taurus Ascendant on your Vedic Chart

5th house – This is the house of creative expression, children, enjoyment, and play. What does the inner child within yourself want? Honestly, ask yourself how you can express more dramatic and emotional mindfulness to your creative Self and journey. What is fun for you? What do you love to do? Give them things that you enjoy a purpose to you. 

Taurus ascendant on your Western Chart

Aries ascendant on your Vedic Chart

6th house – This is the house of health, service, jobs, and employment. What do you want to do differently at your workplace? Perhaps you want to be more determined and excited about what genuine service means to you and how you can change and grow from your job. What kind of work fulfills your desire to serve others? Do you need to exercise the way you want to?? Are you exercising because someone told you that it was good for you? How do you enjoy exercising? 

Aries ascendant on your Western Chart

Pisces ascendant on your Vedic Chart

7th house – Partnership and relationships are associated with this house. It is now time to visualize what you want to do or give to your partner. Or perhaps you want to become more direct and passionate about your partner and practice intensity in your relationships. If you are not in a solid and sincere relationship, perhaps it's time to internalize how YOU want to be in a relationship. What feels passionate to you in a relationship? 

Pisces ascendant on your Western Chart

Aquarius ascendant on your Vedic Chart

8th house – This has to do with other people's resources, death, taxes, and more profound psychological development. With Mars retrograde here, it is time to work deeply with what you want from others and become passionate about your psychological Self, internalize what you think about your death, and perhaps ask yourself who is essential to you in the world. Who is your worldly family? 

Aquarius ascendant on your Western Chart

Capricorn ascendant on your Vedic Chart

9th house is the place for higher knowledge, travel, education, and expansion through experiencing and understanding philosophy. Mars here may help you to internalize what you want from education or travel in your life. Is there somewhere or somewhere you are passionate about doing? Maybe it's time to teach others what you are passionate about? Internalize what you want from seeking higher knowledge. 

Capricorn ascendant on your Western Chart

Sagittarius ascendant on your Vedic Chart

10th house – Career, social status, authority are all the realms of this house. It is time to look at what you want to achieve to help you understand your success in the world. Become more mindful about what real, passionate success means for you. What does success mean to you? What do you want from your success? Internalize your leadership abilities and decide where you want to be a leader in the world. 

Sagittarius ascendant on your Western Chart

Scorpio ascendant on your Vedic Chart

11th house – Hopes, wishes, and dreams are a part of this house, as well as establishing and maintaining great friendships and associations in your community. Mars visiting and retrograde here may help you reflect on the time you spend with friends and perhaps change how you communicate with them. What do you want from friends? What do you want to do for your friends? 

Scorpio ascendant on your Western Chart

Libra ascendant on your Vedic Chart

12th house – This house is about rest, relaxation, and changing your perception about healing yourself through rest and retreat. What kinds of healing modalities are you interested in trying? Do you want to exercise more or sleep more? Are you spending time by yourself to rejuvenate and heal? What does getting out of the chaos of the world do for you? 

Libra ascendant on your Western Chart

Virgo Ascendant on your Vedic Chart

There may be some slight changes on the above, depending on the degree of your rising sign. If you would like to know what exact house the Mars Retrograde Cycle is starting in, email me your birth information (the date, same time, place), and I will send your Astrological chart free of charge. 

If you would like to know more about your own Mars Retrograde cycle, contact Amber to schedule a session.